Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said Wednesday on Fox News that the Ukraine bill could be “decoupled” from border funding following recent talks with the White House.
Johnson appeared on “The Ingraham Angle” to discuss the ongoing crisis at the southern border and the obstacles to moving forward with a deal to resolve the issue. House Republicans blocked funding for Ukraine late last year, demanding border security be addressed as a condition for additional aid to the country.
Fox host Laura Ingraham argued that the American people do not agree with additional aid to Ukraine and questioned the House speaker's support for the joint bill. (Related: House Speaker Johnson says 'comprehensive' immigration reform is 'too complex' to pass in Congress right now)
“if [you’re] They're desperate to get money to Ukraine, but again, the American people don't want that…but if you want to do it, create a separate Ukraine bill. Why associate it with national borders? ” Ingraham asked.
After a meeting with the White House in which Johnson doubled down on the party's stance on the border, the House speaker said Ukraine was being used as “leverage” to force Democrats to meet their demands. However, Mr Johnson admitted that the deal “could actually be broken” depending on how the proposal developed.
“Well, Ukraine… [the] border [deal]. But from your point of view, they might really be breaking up. Let's see how it develops. Again, the devil will be in the details of all these proposals,” Johnson said.
“But what is happening in Ukraine is unacceptable. The status quo is unacceptable. We have sent billions of dollars over there without a clear strategy. I've communicated this to the House: What is the strategy? What is the endgame? How do we hold ourselves accountable?”
Johnson went on to say that House Republicans are “pressuring” the White House every day to get answers to “critical questions” that they “owe” to the American people. The House speaker stressed that the White House continues to ask for “billions more dollars” in aid but is allegedly failing to provide “the aid that is needed.” (Related: Democratic leaders praise latest continuing resolution)
“Every day we have asked the White House for answers to the critical questions that the American people have. And we have to know it. We have to know how to get out of conflict. Why aren't the critical weapons systems that are requested and needed to push Russia back not being supplied by the White House?'' Johnson asked.
“I mean, I met President Zelenskiy the last time he came to town…and he said they still haven't gotten the weapons systems that they requested. In other words, the White House has So you're asking for billions more when you haven't even provided the aid that we have? We still have a lot of work to do, and we understand the frustration of the American people. and we share that.”
Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers are working to agree on a joint bill to address the border crisis and Ukraine funding. But with a deadline set for Jan. 19, the bill's details are in flux as the southern border approaches record numbers of illegal immigrants entering the country.
At the beginning of the year, the United States announced a new $3.1 billion security assistance package for Ukraine, providing dozens of heavy infantry vehicles for the first time in the deal, according to a White House press release. The new additions to Ukraine funds come as the United States has pledged more than $44.9 billion in security assistance since President Biden took office. according to to the Department of Defense.
