Speaker of House of Representatives supports providing assistance to Ukraine
Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson (photo: Getty Images)
House Speaker Mike Johnson, in a conversation with Senate Republicans, expressed his support for providing assistance to Ukraine. However, he has drawn a clear line against combining it with funds for Israel, reports Politico.
It is reported that the new Speaker indicated his support for allocating funds for Ukraine's defense, even if they differ in size or scope from what President Joe Biden desires.
Johnson also mentioned to the senators that strengthening border security in the United States and funding Ukraine are "inextricably intertwined."
Senator Roger Marshall noted that if Johnson attempted to combine the two aid packages into one and vote on assistance together, "his caucus would revolt."
Republican Senator Josh Hawley, when discussing Johnson's position on Ukraine and Israel, said, "He kept saying over and over again that, for him, these are just numbers that cannot be combined."
What proceeded this
The new spokesperson of the U.S. House of Representatives previously proposed not to combine the new aid for Ukraine and Israel into a single package. He wants members of the House of Representatives to vote on these initiatives separately.
Prior to this, President Joe Biden requested $106 billion in aid for Ukraine and Israel from the U.S. Congress. This includes $61 billion for Ukraine and $14.3 billion for Israel.
