House Republicans divided over aid to Ukraine ahead of midterms

McCarthy says Congress won't write a blank cheque' while another senior Republicans says Ukrainians should get what they need'

The Republican leader in the House of Representatives has said that Congress would not write a blank cheque to Ukraine" if his party wins next month's midterm elections, stoking fears in Kyiv that the flow of military equipment could be cut off.

However, another senior Republican said that he thought that the Ukrainians should get what they need", including longer-range missiles than those the Biden administration has so far been prepared to supply. Analysts say the mixed messages reflect an internal debate between traditional national security conservatives and the Trumpist wing of the party, where pro-Russian sentiment is much stronger.