Sen. Rubio says U.S. shouldn’t be sending Ukraine a ‘blank check’

Florida Senator Marco Rubio (R) said he agrees with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R) in regard to suggestions Ukraine may not receive a “blank check” if Republicans are able to take back the senate in November’s midterms.

Rubio said he has not heard all of McCarthy’s remarks and whilst he said he is very much behind Ukraine in their war with Russia, he doesn’t believe it’s sustainable for the United States to send Ukraine “$60 billion every six months.”

“Ukrainians have to know no country in the world can afford them,” he told the Washington Examiner Saturday after a campaign stop in Key Largo, Florida.

“I’m 100% supportive of what Ukraine is doing,” he said. “I’m not commenting on what he said, because I didn’t hear what he said, but I don’t think our foreign engagement is ever a blank check to anybody.”

One attended responded to Rubio’s statements by saying “Amen.”

McCarthy had defended his Punchbowl News interview in another interview with CNBC.

“I think Ukraine is very important,” he told CNBC. “I support making sure that we move forward to defeat Russia in that program. But there should be no blank check on anything. We are $31 trillion in debt.”

Former Vice President Mike Pence hit out at McCarthy during an interview with Fox News.

“You know the United States throughout our history has understood that we need to be the leader of the free world,” he said. “That includes being the arsenal of democracy.”

Rubio is running against Rep. Val Demings (D-FL) for his Senate seat, which he has held since 2011.