President Donald Trump's move to halt all military aid to Ukraine drew mixed reactions among congressional Republicans.
Most congressional Republicans either muted or praised the move, but several vocal critics quickly emerged — a rarity in the president's second term.
“This is a critical time for Ukraine. And I managed the Ukraine supplemental last year that provided additional help to Ukraine, and I do not think we should be pausing our efforts. It's the Ukrainians who are shedding blood," Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) said.
"It is Putin who launched an unprovoked and unjustified attack on a free, democratic, and sovereign country. And I am not backing off my support for Ukraine,” she added.
“Too bad Iran, North Korea, and China are not pausing their military aid and economic support,” Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) told Politico. “There is an invader and a victim, there is a democracy and a dictatorship, there is a country who wants to be part of the West and one who hates the West. We should be unambiguously for the good side.”
Other Republicans praised the move, including Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), who has criticized Trump in the past.
“This is what the president ought to do. Frankly, he could have done that before Friday’s interaction with Zelensky,” he told CNN.
"I think the President is right. We said there's three doors here: either you're going to lose, or we're going to be drawn into war, or we need a ceasefire. The President's right to choose a ceasefire," Roy added.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), who has been skeptical of aid to Ukraine in the past, praised the move.
"Good start. Let’s end it and fully audit what was already spent. America first," he said.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a Ukraine hawk and former supporter of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, turned against Zelensky after Friday's Oval Office spat. However, Graham struck a middle road after Zelensky released a statement calling the meeting "regrettable" and looking to restart negotiations.
"Better days are ahead," he said, alongside a thumbs-up emoji.
TRUMP ORDERS HALT ON US MILITARY AID TO UKRAINE
A U.S. Defense official confirmed to the Washington Examiner that Trump ordered a halt on all military aid to Ukraine, effective immediately. The halt is expected to be held until Trump believes Zelensky has made a good-faith commitment to peace.
On Friday, what was supposed to be a cordial meeting between Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Zelensky was suddenly upended after about 40 minutes, with the three exchanging verbal barbs. Trump canceled the planned mineral deal signing ceremony that was supposed to increase U.S. interests in Ukraine and sent Zelensky away.