During a recent interview with Fox News, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson expressed optimism that the stalled arms aid package for Ukraine could move forward after Congress returns from its Easter recess on April 9. The $95 billion aid package, which includes support for both Ukraine and Israel, has been held up by opposition from extreme Republicans in the House of Representatives for months.
Despite facing challenges in getting the bill approved in the House, Johnson has remained committed to providing aid to Ukraine. Efforts by some extreme Republicans to impeach him, including Marjorie Taylor Greene, did not come to a vote in March. However, calls have been made by some Republicans to convert the aid into loans for Ukraine and use the frozen funds of Russian billionaires to support the country in its conflict with Russia.
In addition to securing aid for Ukraine, Johnson also hopes to secure funding for a natural gas terminal in Louisiana, his home state, which was halted by President Joe Biden in January due to environmental concerns. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has left the country vulnerable and facing shortages of essential resources like manpower and ammunition. Despite efforts by the White House to appeal to extreme Republicans and provide aid to Ukraine, the political divide on the issue continues.
