For months, political power struggles within the US House of Representatives have stymied a multibillion-dollar aid package for Ukraine. Now, Republican Mike Johnson aims to facilitate the vote — but with a twist.
Since the end of last year, Republicans in the US Congress have blocked another $60 billion (approximately €56 billion) aid package for Ukraine. They demand focusing on internal affairs such as resolving the US-Mexico border crisis first. However Mike Johnson, chairman of the House of Representatives, announced on Monday evening his intention to push for a vote on the aid payments. Previously, he had not allowed such a vote.
Johnson, who was elected to his position only in October, is under immense pressure within his party. Some Republicans have even threatened him with a motion for his removal should he allow the vote. However, on Friday, he received backing from Donald Trump.
The Senate has already approved the aid package. It includes not only around $60 billion in support for Ukraine but also $14 billion for Israel, as well as assistance for Taiwan and other partners in the Indo-Pacific region. Johnson now plans to divide the package into several parts, allowing separate votes on aid for Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific. However, this would necessitate a new vote on the aid in the Senate.
For Johnson, the move is risky: His party colleague Marjorie Taylor Greene filed an initial motion for his removal at the end of March. Although several parliamentary steps would be necessary before his removal could actually occur, Johnson, with his slim majority in the chamber, would rely on votes from Joe Biden’s Democrattic Party for his political survival. Johnson’s predecessor, Kevin McCarthy, was ousted through a similar vote of no confidence from his own party.
The US is considered Ukraine’s most important ally. Since the start of the conflict in February 2022, Biden’s administration has provided more than $44 billion (approximately €40 billion) in military aid to Kyiv. According to the US government, the funds approved by Congress for Ukraine have been exhausted. And as Europe is not prepared to finance the Ukrainian effort alone European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has increased pressure on the US to release the blocked Ukraine billions pulling money from Amerca’s own unresolved problems.
