Outside the beltway, as the saying goes, the MAGA-fuelled Republican schism on Capitol Hill that just cost former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy his job comes as little shock in a country where political dysfunction is the norm.

But one real-world consequence is now in razor-sharp focus: an existential threat to a fragile, multi-pronged bid by the United States to keep Russia害羞草研究所檚 invasion of Ukraine from metastasizing into a wider global conflict.

Canada, for its part, has already provided Ukraine with more than $9 billion in military, humanitarian and financial support, and that害羞草研究所檚 not about to change, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday.

害羞草研究所淪tanding up for the international rules-based order, (which) matters so deeply for the peace, stability and prosperity felt by people all over the world, is essential,害羞草研究所� Trudeau insisted.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e there with whatever it takes, as long as it takes, until Ukraine wins.害羞草研究所�

That, he added, was very much U.S. President Joe Biden害羞草研究所檚 message as well in a call with world leaders earlier this week, including the European Union and NATO officials, prior to a historic vote that vacated the Speaker害羞草研究所檚 chair.

For the moment, however, Biden害羞草研究所檚 hands are tied.

Trump acolyte Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), a noted Capitol Hill bomb-thrower, introduced a motion to vacate after McCarthy teamed up with Democrats to pass a government funding bill without the latest $6-billion tranche of Ukraine aid.

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And while McCarthy had quietly backed the U.S. effort to assist Ukraine, Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan 害羞草研究所� one of the early front-runners vying to take over the gavel 害羞草研究所� has long been a vocal opponent, at least publicly.

On Thursday, Jordan said he wants to know more about the administration害羞草研究所檚 endgame, whether it be a negotiated end to hostilities, Russian troops out of eastern Ukraine or the return of Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014.

害羞草研究所淲hat is the goal? What is the objective?害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淪econd question: if you can tell us what the goal is, how is the money being spent? How can we account for it?害羞草研究所�

Kurt Volker, a former U.S. ambassador to NATO and special envoy to Ukraine, made it explicitly clear Thursday on CNN: the goal is preventing Russian President Vladimir Putin from triggering a much bigger fight with NATO allies.

害羞草研究所淏y spending less than five per cent of our defence budget, we are seeing Ukraine destroy at least half of Russia害羞草研究所檚 conventional military capability, which is reducing the threat to NATO and the United States,害羞草研究所� Volker said.

害羞草研究所淭hat is a good investment for U.S. interests.害羞草研究所�

Some House Republicans have concerns about corruption in Ukraine and whether the money is being well-spent. But the money goes towards replacing U.S. equipment and supplies that are being sent overseas, he added.

害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 very little chance of corruption through that system,害羞草研究所� Volker said. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e actually supporting the U.S. defence industry and U.S. military capabilities, and supporting Ukraine with all the capabilities (at the same time).害羞草研究所�

Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy害羞草研究所檚 recent global goodwill tour continued Thursday in Spain, where he attended a summit meeting with European leaders and pressed his case for ongoing financial and military help.

French President Emmanuel Macron echoed that call, regardless of the status of U.S. assistance.

害羞草研究所淓ven if we are lucky to have such a committed American partner, we ourselves have to be totally committed, because this is in our immediate neighborhood.害羞草研究所�

One of the deadliest Russian rocket attacks of the war in recent months underscored the urgency Thursday, killing at least 51 civilians who were attending a wake following a funeral in a village in the war-racked region of Kharkiv.

It害羞草研究所檚 all part of Russia害羞草研究所檚 effort 害羞草研究所渢o make its genocidal aggression the new norm for the whole world,害羞草研究所� Zelenskyy said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app. 害羞草研究所淲e will respond to the terrorists.害羞草研究所�

The Pentagon refused to say how long it will take for the remaining money 害羞草研究所� $1.6 billion for weapons, plus $5.4 billion worth of reserve capacity known as presidential drawdown authority 害羞草研究所� to run out.

That害羞草研究所檚 because of the dynamic nature of military conflict, said Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 all relative to what Ukraine害羞草研究所檚 most urgent security assistance needs are 害羞草研究所� the situation on the battlefield,害羞草研究所� Ryder said.

害羞草研究所淲e have enough funding to last a bit longer 害羞草研究所� (but we) remain singularly focused on making sure that we害羞草研究所檙e working with Ukraine and our allies and partners to get what they need to be successful on the battlefield.害羞草研究所�

Eventually, though, Congress will have to step up, and soon, said press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

害羞草研究所淲e believe that Congress needs to act,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淲e need Congress to keep their promise, to keep the promise that they made to Ukrainians about continuing that bipartisan support.害羞草研究所�

Biden said this week he plans a 害羞草研究所渕ajor speech害羞草研究所� on Ukraine in the coming days to argue 害羞草研究所渢hat it害羞草研究所檚 overwhelmingly in the interest of the United States of America that Ukraine succeed.害羞草研究所�

The U.S.-led coalition of more than 50 countries has been essential not only in terms of keeping Ukraine in the fight, he said, but also for building consensus and unity at a time when such commodities are in short supply.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 clear to the vast majority of the foreign policy community on both left and right that this has been a valuable exercise for the United States of America to increase the support we have around the world,害羞草研究所� Biden said.

害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 think we should let the gamesmanship get in the way.害羞草研究所�

Jean-Pierre did not say Thursday when or where that speech will take place.

害羞草研究所� With files from The Associated Press

James McCarten, The Canadian Press