On Wednesday, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson turned down a White House proposal for an additional $24 billion in aid for Ukraine, indicating that decisions about further support for Kyiv would be made by President-elect Trump once he takes office in January. In response to whether he would consider adding Ukraine aid to a continuing resolution for government funding, Johnson stated, “I’m not planning to do that.”
During a news conference with House Republican leaders, Johnson emphasized that Trump’s anticipated election victory is altering the dynamics of Russia’s conflict with Ukraine and that any future U.S. assistance should be determined by the incoming administration. He remarked, “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, and we’re seeing that happen.”
Johnson signals a change in U.S. strategy for Ukraine as Trump prepares to take office
Johnson further asserted, “So, 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 all that. I don’t expect any Ukraine funding to come up now.”
The White House’s request aimed to provide ongoing support for Ukraine through 2026, with expectations that Trump would urge Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to engage in negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the nearly three-year conflict.
Reportedly, Biden’s request to Congress sought $8 billion for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which is designed to supply military equipment, train Ukrainian forces, and bolster Ukraine’s defenses against Russian aggression.
Included in the request was also $16 billion for the Department of Defense to replenish military stocks sent to Ukraine, along with funding for repairs of military equipment and reimbursement for military education and training given to Ukraine and other nations supporting it.
While the Biden administration still has approximately $6 billion available for Ukraine, it faces difficulties in distributing the full amount due to diminishing American military stockpiles. On Monday, the administration announced a military aid package valued at $725 million, which will include air defense systems, munitions for rocket systems, artillery, and anti-tank weapons.
Although most Republicans and Democrats back military and economic aid for Ukraine’s defense against Russia, Trump and his allies, including Vice President-elect JD Vance, have criticized the level of support as excessive and a distraction from domestic priorities and the challenge posed by China.
In response to potential cuts in U.S. assistance, pro-Ukraine lawmakers are striving to pass legislation by year-end that would grant Congress the authority to mandate the president to continue providing military and economic support in the future.
