After six months of resistance, House Speaker Mike Johnson appears to be relenting and preparing to bring a bill, including aid to Ukraine, to a vote.
Johnson has started outlining potential conditions for extending a new round of American military assistance to Ukraine, indicating his intention to advance a package that has faced opposition from many Republicans.
His terms may involve linking aid for Kyiv to a measure that would compel President Biden to reverse a moratorium on new permits for liquefied natural gas export facilities. This move would be seen as a political win against the Democratic president’s climate agenda and would benefit Johnson’s home state of Louisiana by unblocking a proposed export terminal.
In an interview on Fox News, Johnson hinted at progress, suggesting that a modified aid package for Ukraine could move forward after the current work period. This indicates a shift in approach, as the aid package has been stalled due to Republican resistance.
With pressure mounting from the Biden administration and NATO allies, Johnson is now seeking a way forward that minimizes backlash within his party. The focus has shifted to how and when aid will be allowed to proceed.
Johnson discussed various options for structuring the aid, including the REPO Act, which would use seized assets of Russian oligarchs to fund Ukrainian efforts. Despite initial skepticism from American officials, the Biden administration has warmed to the idea amid dwindling financial support for Ukraine.
Johnson also suggested the possibility of providing some aid as a loan, a concept previously mentioned by President Trump. Additionally, he revisited the idea of tying aid to lifting the Biden administration’s pause on liquefied natural gas exports, arguing that it would weaken Putin’s war efforts by reducing reliance on Russian gas.
Overall, Johnson’s willingness to discuss these options signals a potential breakthrough in advancing aid to Ukraine through Congress.
