House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) announced Wednesday that he does not plan to approve President Joe Biden’s recent proposals for additional Ukraine spending, signaling a shift in congressional priorities with the incoming administration.
“I’m not planning to do that,” Johnson stated in response to a reporter’s question about Biden’s latest Ukraine aid package. “There are developments by the hour in Ukraine,” he said, hinting at rapidly changing dynamics in the region.
Speaker Mike Johnson about new fundings to Ukraine: “I don’t expect any Ukraine funding to come up.”pic.twitter.com/LRP8e3mr9L
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Johnson emphasized that decisions on Ukraine funding should align with the direction of the newly elected president, Donald Trump. “As I said weeks before the election, if Donald Trump is elected, it will change the dynamic of the Russia-Ukraine war, and we’re seeing that happen,” he noted. “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 Ukraine funding to come up.”
In the final months of his term, President Biden has ramped up efforts to secure additional funding for Ukraine. Last week, he requested $24 billion from Congress, and on Monday, the administration announced plans for an additional $725 million in military assistance. This package may include more ATACMS long-range missiles, which Ukraine has used in direct attacks on Russian targets.
Biden has also proposed forgiving $4.7 billion in Ukrainian loans, part of a broader strategy to maintain robust support for Ukraine’s war effort.
The Biden administration has justified these measures as essential to sustaining Ukraine’s resistance against Russia.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan recently told CBS News that the White House aims to create a political consensus ensuring continued aid for Ukraine, even under a new administration. “President Biden will make the case that we do need ongoing resources for Ukraine beyond the end of his term,” Sullivan said.
Since the war began, the Biden administration has directed approximately $64 billion in direct military assistance to Ukraine. Critics, including many in the GOP, have expressed concerns about the scale of U.S. involvement and the potential risks of escalating conflict with Russia.
Last month, Biden approved the use of U.S. missiles to target sites inside Russia, a move that provoked threats of retaliation from Moscow.
Additionally, the administration authorized the deployment of anti-personnel landmines in Ukraine—controversial weapons that pose long-term risks to civilians and have been the focus of international disarmament efforts.
Johnson’s comments reflect a broader Republican sentiment favoring a reevaluation of U.S. policy on Ukraine. Trump has been vocal about his intention to negotiate an end to the conflict, arguing that continued military aid risks prolonging the war.
With Johnson firmly opposing Biden’s proposals, the path forward for Ukraine funding remains uncertain. Congressional Republicans are likely to delay significant decisions until Trump takes office, potentially signaling a major shift in U.S. foreign policy.