On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held meetings with lawmakers on Capitol Hill with the aim of persuading them to obtain more help to continue the war against Russia. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson unequivocally stressed that he will not change his position on the need to include border security measures in any funding project for Ukraine.
After the meeting with Zelensky, Johnson made it clear that, although Republicans are willing to continue supporting Ukraine, it is important that certain conditions are met first.
“I have been very clear from day one, that our first condition on any national security supplemental spending package is about our own national security first,” Johnson said, in reference to the border protection measures that the GOP has been requesting to try to mitigate the immigration crisis.
The Republican representative from Louisiana stated that it is also important for the White House to be transparent and report on the strategies being carried out with taxpayers' money.
“I have asked the White House since the day that I was handed the gavel as speaker for clarity. We need a clear articulation of the strategy to allow Ukraine to win. And thus far their responses have been insufficient. What the Biden administration seems to be asking for is billions of additional dollars with no appropriate oversight or clear strategy to win, and none of the answers that I think the American people are owed,” he said.
Johnson digs heels in on border security after meeting with Zelenskyy about Ukraine aid https://t.co/rTctuFU388
— Fox News Politics (@foxnewspolitics) December 12, 2023
Senate minority leader agrees with Johnson
Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), also insisted on the need to address security on the southern border after meeting with the Ukrainian president.
"My support for Ukraine and Israel is rock solid. I’m committed to preparing the U.S. military to deter and defend against Chinese aggression. I’m determined to get the national security crisis at the southern border under control, and I’m going to work to get it done as long as it takes," McConnell said.
It should be remembered that Senate Republicans recently blocked a bill that sought to provide millions of dollars in emergency aid to Ukraine and Israel.
GOP senators explained that they would not support any national security project that does not include substantial measures to help resolve the border crisis.
“Republicans have made it clear to the White House and Senate Democrats: a national security supplemental must include substantive U.S. border policy,” said Markwayne Mullin, Republican senator from Oklahoma.
