House Speaker Mike Johnson is currently under scrutiny for his handling of the New USA to Ukraine situation. The pressure on him has escalated following the recent passing of prominent Putin critic Alexei Navalny and a significant Ukrainian loss on the battlefield.
The fate of Ukraine aid now rests with Speaker Mike Johnson, who has not yet disclosed his plans as his party remains divided on the issue. Johnson, being relatively new to his role, lacks experience on the international stage and has never visited Ukraine as part of any official delegation.
There is a faction within Johnson's party that strongly opposes providing additional aid to Ukraine, even going as far as threatening his speakership. However, there are also House Republicans who support allocating more funds to Ukraine.
In private discussions, Johnson has acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and expressed a desire to address it in some manner. Nevertheless, the mounting pressure and criticism on Johnson have increased, particularly in light of recent events.
Senate Democrats, including Chuck Schumer, have urged Johnson to pass the national security supplemental bill, emphasizing the urgency of the situation following Navalny's death. The bill, which includes a $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, has not yet been brought to a floor vote by Johnson.
There have been talks among House GOP leaders about potentially modifying the aid package, possibly reducing the Ukraine aid amount as suggested by former Speaker Donald Trump. However, no final decisions have been made, and with Congress currently on recess until next week, the issue remains unresolved.
Before the recess, Johnson informed members that there is no rush to address the matter, a stance that contrasts with the sense of urgency felt by the international community.
