Russian President Vladimir Putin’s close associates have criticized House Speaker Kevin McCarthy for supporting an additional aid package for Ukraine. The Kremlin propagandist Vladimir Solovyov called McCarthy a “traitor” for pushing the funding measure despite opposition from some Republicans. Solovyov claimed that President Biden had “used backstage methods” to sway McCarthy’s support, and that the Ukrainian aid bill was a “brutal victory” for Biden. Russian state-run media have previously expressed affection for McCarthy, but have now turned against him.