After consulting with Trump
Easing of the US blockade on Ukraine aid in sight
April 15, 2024, 5:34 a.m
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The Republican blockade in the US House of Representatives could be coming to an end: Because Israel needs help after the Iranian attack, Ukraine could also benefit. Speaker Johnson is first getting support from Trump for the voting package.
After Iran’s attack, the Republican leader of the US House of Representatives, who is under pressure, wants to push for the release of further funds for Israel. At the same time, Mike Johnson promised that he would also explore his party’s approval for further aid to Ukraine. The Republicans “understand the need to stand by Israel,” Johnson said on Fox News. “We’ll try again this week.” The details of the aid package are currently being put together. “We are looking at the options for all these additional issues,” said Johnson, referring to the funds for Ukraine that his party has blocked for months.
Johnson faces a rebellion from the far right wing of the Republican party. He must strike a balance between his party’s moderate Republicans and hardliners on a range of legislative proposals, particularly on Ukraine aid. So far, the dispute has primarily led to a paralysis of the political decision-making processes in the House of Representatives.
On Friday, Johnson traveled to Florida to meet Donald Trump to talk to the former US president about a number of controversial topics, including the controversial arms aid for Ukraine. Trump, who de facto leads the Republican Party, controlled the blocking of aid to Ukraine in Congress. On Friday he said he preferred loans to Ukraine for its military defense rather than direct aid.
Plan: Grant aid as a loan
Johnson, who has long supported Trump, now told Fox News that he is considering structuring the Ukraine aid as a loan in accordance with Trump’s proposal. From his point of view, this met with “wide approval”. The vote on the additional national security package is scheduled for next week.
The US has been Kiev’s main military supporter since Russia’s attack on Ukraine in February 2022. But for months, Republicans in Congress have been blocking a new Ukraine aid package worth $60 billion (around 55 billion euros) under pressure from Trump, who wants to run for president again in November. In return for their approval, they are demanding tougher measures to secure the US border with Mexico. US President Joe Biden had repeatedly called on the House of Representatives to abandon its blockade stance.