House Speaker suggests border and Ukraine aid issues may split
Photo: House Speaker Mike Johnson (Getty Images)
The issue of border security with Mexico and related financial assistance to Ukraine due to concerns over border policy reform is likely to be split in the U.S. Congress, according to House Speaker Mike Johnson.
According to The Hill, Johnson informed the three leaders of the Baltic parliaments. The U.S. may take this step because of concerns about reforms in border policy.
The source notes that the final decision will depend on the text of the border document that will emerge from the Senate negotiations.
At the same time, Johnson's spokesperson Raj Shah said to Semafor that these comments were made in a "hypothetical context."
It is unclear whether the possible division of the package would mean a separate vote in the House of Representatives on all items, including the issue of aid to Ukraine.
A separate vote on military aid to Kyiv could expose Johnson to criticism from radical lawmakers in his Republican Party who oppose further aid to Ukraine.
Financial Assistance to Ukraine and U.S. Border Agreement with Mexico
In October 2023, U.S. President Joe Biden submitted a $106 billion bill to Congress to help Israel and Ukraine, as well as allies in the Asia-Pacific region. Of this amount, $61.3 billion was proposed to be allocated to Ukraine and $14.3 billion to Israel.
However, in December, the Senate blocked consideration of this document. The reason was the Republicans' demand that the bill include a tougher set of measures to protect the southern border of the United States with Mexico.
Recently, the Senate and Congress agreed on the text of an agreement on the U.S. border with Mexico. However, Johnson called the draft agreement "dead on arrival." In this way, he hinted that the Republican majority in the lower house of Congress did not plan to vote for the document.
