Thursday, Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, asked Congress again to give more aid to Kyiv. He did this while directly warning Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) of Russian gains. The obstructionist Republican opposition has been blocking aid for the troubled U.S. partner.
Later, Zelensky talked on the phone with the Speaker and told him about the "battlefield situation." He thanked Johnson and other U.S. officials for their "critical support of Ukraine" since Russia invaded in February 2022.
Then he asked Congress again to send more help to other countries, since officials in both Washington and Kyiv are warning about Ukraine's limited resources.
It is very important that Congress quickly pass US help to Ukraine in this situation. While members of the House of Representatives have different ideas about what to do, Zelensky wrote on X (formerly Twitter), "The issue of aid to Ukraine must remain a unifying factor."
What did the president of Ukraine and Johnson talk about when they talked? "The importance of cutting off Russia's sources of funding for its war as soon as possible and using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine's benefit," the president said. This is an idea that has become popular on Capitol Hill as a way to make conservatives who are against sending more aid to Ukraine feel better.
"Likewise, we depend on the leaders of Congress in this matter," he said.
A phone call between Zelensky and Johnson happens as Congress gets ready to debate the controversial issue of sending more aid to Ukraine. This issue has been bothering lawmakers for months as more and more members of the House GOP conference are against helping our friend in its current troubles.
While Congress was away for the holidays last week, Johnson promised that the problem would be the first thing that the House does when it returns to Capitol Hill in the middle of April. Unfortunately, it is still not clear how he will handle the touchy issue.
Johnson has been at the center of the heated fight about helping Ukraine almost from the moment he became president in October. He voted against sending $300 million in new military aid to Kyiv with most Republicans in the House a month ago, but as Speaker, he is said many times that he wants to help America's democracy partner defend itself against Russian troops that are attacking.
But Johnson has failed to look at a foreign aid package that was passed by the Senate, even though it got strong support from both parties last month. With the help of 22 Republican senators, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), that plan, which includes $60 billion for Ukraine, was passed.
Republicans in the House have a harder time with this problem because Trump, as president, spoke out against any new help for Ukraine before the elections in November. Many Republican House members have agreed with Trump and told Johnson not to hold a vote on the matter, especially if the aid does not come with efforts to make the border between the U.S. and Mexico safer.
Adding to the Speaker's problems, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) filed a motion on Friday to remove Johnson from power because she thinks he has betrayed conservative policy beliefs. Greene did not try to force a vote on her motion, but she did call it "a warning," which led some to think she might do so if Johnson moves the Ukraine funding when Congress gets back to Washington.
Earlier this week, she told reporters, "He should not bring money for Ukraine."
But if Greene goes ahead with her plan to remove Johnson, some Democrats say they are ready to protect him as long as he moves on the aid for Ukraine that has been held up.
Later, Zelensky talked on the phone with the Speaker and told him about the "battlefield situation." He thanked Johnson and other U.S. officials for their "critical support of Ukraine" since Russia invaded in February 2022.
Then he asked Congress again to send more help to other countries, since officials in both Washington and Kyiv are warning about Ukraine's limited resources.
It is very important that Congress quickly pass US help to Ukraine in this situation. While members of the House of Representatives have different ideas about what to do, Zelensky wrote on X (formerly Twitter), "The issue of aid to Ukraine must remain a unifying factor."
What did the president of Ukraine and Johnson talk about when they talked? "The importance of cutting off Russia's sources of funding for its war as soon as possible and using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine's benefit," the president said. This is an idea that has become popular on Capitol Hill as a way to make conservatives who are against sending more aid to Ukraine feel better.
"Likewise, we depend on the leaders of Congress in this matter," he said.
A phone call between Zelensky and Johnson happens as Congress gets ready to debate the controversial issue of sending more aid to Ukraine. This issue has been bothering lawmakers for months as more and more members of the House GOP conference are against helping our friend in its current troubles.
While Congress was away for the holidays last week, Johnson promised that the problem would be the first thing that the House does when it returns to Capitol Hill in the middle of April. Unfortunately, it is still not clear how he will handle the touchy issue.
Johnson has been at the center of the heated fight about helping Ukraine almost from the moment he became president in October. He voted against sending $300 million in new military aid to Kyiv with most Republicans in the House a month ago, but as Speaker, he is said many times that he wants to help America's democracy partner defend itself against Russian troops that are attacking.
But Johnson has failed to look at a foreign aid package that was passed by the Senate, even though it got strong support from both parties last month. With the help of 22 Republican senators, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), that plan, which includes $60 billion for Ukraine, was passed.
Republicans in the House have a harder time with this problem because Trump, as president, spoke out against any new help for Ukraine before the elections in November. Many Republican House members have agreed with Trump and told Johnson not to hold a vote on the matter, especially if the aid does not come with efforts to make the border between the U.S. and Mexico safer.
Adding to the Speaker's problems, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) filed a motion on Friday to remove Johnson from power because she thinks he has betrayed conservative policy beliefs. Greene did not try to force a vote on her motion, but she did call it "a warning," which led some to think she might do so if Johnson moves the Ukraine funding when Congress gets back to Washington.
Earlier this week, she told reporters, "He should not bring money for Ukraine."
But if Greene goes ahead with her plan to remove Johnson, some Democrats say they are ready to protect him as long as he moves on the aid for Ukraine that has been held up.
