The Republican-controlled House of Representatives will vote on aid bills for Ukraine and Israel this week.
Washington:
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Monday the Republican-controlled House would vote on an aid bill for Ukraine and Israel this week, after months of delays by the party amid pressure from the right.
“This week, we will consider separate bills and engage in a structured and closely related amendment process to…fund our ally Israel, support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression, and strengthen our allies in the Indo-Pacific region (and) take additional steps to counter our adversaries and strengthen our national security,” Johnson said at X.
U.S. aid has been snubbed in a divided Congress, with Johnson, an ally of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, blocking $95 billion in aid Biden had earlier sought for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan. The bill has passed the Senate.
“We will not be voting on the Senate supplemental bill in its current form, but we will be voting individually on each of the measures in four different parts,” Johnson told reporters on Monday about the $95 billion package.
Earlier Tuesday, the White House ruled out any bill that would include only aid to Israel.
“We will not accept independence. Independence will not help Israel and Ukraine,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told a news conference.
Johnson is walking a fine line on aid to Ukraine, as Trump and far-right members of the House of Representatives grow increasingly skeptical of pouring billions of dollars into Kyiv to fight Russian invading forces.
Ukraine has become increasingly frustrated in recent months with delays in Western aid, including air defense systems it says it urgently needs to repel Russian attacks.
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