KYIV’S WEEKEND WARRIOR
WASHINGTON — House Speaker Mike Johnson said Wednesday he plans to break through a high-stakes impasse on Ukraine aid with a Saturday night vote — as opponents of new funding for Kyiv threaten to oust him in protest.
The $95 billion package includes $60.84 billion in funding to assist Ukraine against Russia, along with $26.38 billion for Israel and $8.12 billion for countering China, about half of which would go toward Taiwan.
Johnson (R-La.) unveiled the plan in a message to Republicans that noted the Ukraine bundle would include “a loan structure for aid and enhanced strategy and accountability,” in an apparent concession to Republican skeptics of aid, a group that includes former President Donald Trump.
The House speaker (above) also said the package will be considered along with bills to fund Ukraine’s reconstruction with seized Russian assets and opposing TikTok, the app that the House voted in March to require divestment from its Chinese owner, though the Senate has yet to follow suit.
Johnson said the House also will vote Saturday on “a border security bill that includes the core components of H.R.2, under a separate rule that will allow for amendments” — reflecting a more loose pairing than what Johnson and other Republicans had long sought between Ukraine and US-Mexico border funds.
“By posting text of these bills as soon as they are completed, we will ensure time for a robust amendment process. We expect the vote on final passage on these bills to be on Saturday evening,” Johnson said.
The precise path forward for the foreign aid packages was not immediately clear as the House Rules Committee prepared to hash out the framework for floor proceedings.
Earlier reporting indicated that House leaders would seek to bundle the three separate aid bills into one final vote, which would increase pressure on Republicans to vote in favor.
Within the Ukraine package, about $23.2 billion would replenish US stocks of weapons that the Biden administration already sent to Ukraine, $11.3 billion would support “US military operations in the region” and $13.8 billion would go toward “the procurement of advanced weapons systems, defense articles and defense services,” the fact sheet from the Rules Committee said.
Another $26 million would be appropriated for “oversight and accountability of aid and equipment provided to Ukraine.”
The Israel aid component is nearly double the $14 billion that the Senate approved in February.
Johnson’s supporters described the aid package and related Saturday votes as a win for conservatives — despite unease in the party— by noting that up to 68% of the $95 billion would flow to US arms dealers.
“What the group pushing his removal want is for the speaker to pick winners and losers, and for Republicans to do nothing but messaging while the world burns,” a senior Republican staffer told The Post.
Ahead of unveiling the plans, Johnson visited Trump’s Mar-aLago resort in Palm Beach, Fla., last week to discuss Ukraine and other issues with the 45th president.
Trump told the press afterward that he supports Johnson against threats by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) to attempt to oust him via a motion to vacate.