US to unblock aid to Ukraine but with significant differences - Johnson
The spokesperson for the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson (Photo: Getty Images)
The spokesperson for the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, announced that the House will advance a Ukraine aid package to the Senate. However, he suggested that the document would significantly differ from the $95 billion foreign aid package passed by the Senate last month, according to The Hill.
Johnson informed senators that the House might consider making it a loan program instead of a grant, aiming to avoid taxpayers spending tens of billions of dollars without any expectation of repayment, according to senators involved in the discussion.
Johnson also expressed interest in incorporating something similar to the REPO for Ukrainians Act into the bill, authored by Representative Mike McCaul, which would allow for confiscating Russian sovereign assets and channeling the proceeds from liquidated assets into a Ukraine support fund.
Notably, Johnson did not specify whether such a Ukraine aid package would include stringent border security reforms, such as the "Remain in Mexico" formulation, which would encounter resistance from Senate Democrats.
US assistance to Ukraine
The United States Congress has been unable to approve new funding for aid to Ukraine, including for arms shipments and more, for several months. This situation stems from disagreements between Republicans and Democrats regarding border protection issues, funding for which was included in the aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.
Recently, the Senate passed a separate bill with funds for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. For it to become law, the document must be approved by the House of Representatives and signed by the president.
According to White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, the aid to Ukrainian forces will be sufficient for several weeks.
