U.S.

Senator Mitch McConnell, a supporter of continued U.S. aid to Ukraine in its fight against Russia, isn't satisfied with the Trump administration's financial commitment to Ukraine.

Senator McConnell chairs the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, and today, that committee discussed the Trump administration's proposed 2026 defense budget, a budget that does not include money to help Ukraine.

Senator McConnell talked about that during his opening statement and in questions to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

I'd like to hear your views on this conflict.

Who is the aggressor?

What are the stakes for America in the West?

What is the return on investment of our assistance to Ukraine?

I don't see funding for Ukraine Security Assistance initiative in your budget request.

Is the administration's view that terminating security assistance to Ukraine will make lasting peace more or less likely?

What lessons is the U.S. military learning from the conflict?

How will the Department of or Industry continue to learn if we cut off our partnership with the world's leading battlefield innovators?

Why would your partners trust us?

We abandoned partners in Europe.

What lessons for China, Iran and North Korea learning.

And how much more will they benefit?

If Russia prevails, number one, who's the aggressor and who's the victim in the conflict?

Russia is the aggressor.

Which I do.

You want to win?

As we've said time and time again, this president is committed to peace in that conflict.

Ultimately, peace serves our national interests.

And we think the interest of both parties, even if that outcome will not be preferable to many in this room and many in our country.

Senator McConnell said he was not satisfied with the overall amount of defense spending requested by the Trump administration.

He says when adjusted for inflation, this budget proposal would mean less spending on defense than some recent presidents.