Johnson Comments ON Aid Package
House Speaker Mike Johnson’s recent comments signal a major shift in the U.S. approach to aiding Ukraine as the war against Russia drags on. Johnson made it clear on Wednesday that he does not support additional aid for Ukraine in the waning days of the Biden administration. Instead, he believes the decision should rest with President-elect Donald Trump, who is set to assume office in January.
“As we predicted and as I said to all of you weeks before the election, if Donald Trump is elected it will change the dynamic of the Russian war on Ukraine,” Johnson stated during a House Republican leadership press conference.
He argued that Trump’s leadership would create new opportunities to address the conflict, making it unnecessary for the outgoing Biden administration to allocate further funding now.
The Biden White House, however, has pressed for $24 billion in total aid to Ukraine, with $8 billion earmarked for security assistance and another $16 billion for the Department of Defense to support Ukraine’s war effort. These funds are intended to provide military equipment, training, and other resources critical to Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression.
Speaker Mike Johnson says there will be no new funding for Ukraine under Biden:
“It is not the place of Joe Biden to make that decision now. We have a newly elected president, and we’re going to wait and take the new Commander-in-Chief’s direction on that. I don’t expect any… pic.twitter.com/ozCeA4nUoS
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) December 4, 2024
Trump, meanwhile, has suggested he would take a different approach altogether. Speaking in September, he outlined his desire to broker a resolution to the Ukraine-Russia conflict before even stepping into office.
“I want to get Russia to settle up with Ukraine and stop this,” Trump said, emphasizing the human and cultural devastation wrought by the war. He has maintained that his return to power will restore the kind of strength and clarity in U.S. leadership that he believes would have deterred Russia’s invasion in the first place.
This pivot in rhetoric reflects broader Republican skepticism toward unrestrained financial support for Ukraine. Johnson’s stance aligns with a growing faction within the GOP that questions the efficacy and accountability of continued U.S. involvement in the war. With Trump set to re-enter the White House, this perspective is poised to gain even greater influence.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, meanwhile, continues to advocate for long-term security guarantees from NATO, a move he sees as critical to ending the “hot war” with Russia. While Ukraine remains focused on retaking territories through diplomatic means, Zelensky’s vision of NATO protection underscores the complex geopolitical considerations at play.