March 20, 2024

The main priority of the Congress is the approval of the budget of the US government for 2024, and since this issue is almost resolved, the package of aid to Ukraine and its partners will be moved to in the near future. This was stated by the speaker of the US House of Representatives, Republican Mike Johnson , during a press conference on March 20, answering questions from journalists.

After the budget issues are resolved, “we will shift our focus to this (additional aid to American allies – ed.) and will not delay it,” Johnson said.

Congress must approve the budget by March 22, otherwise there may be a so-called shutdown, a temporary shutdown of US government agencies. However, according to Johnson, the budget issues have already been practically agreed and should be voted on already this week, although this was preceded by “tough negotiations”.

At the same time, after March 22, the sessions of the House of Representatives begin a two-week break, so lawmakers will most likely move to the draft law on financing aid to Ukraine, Israel, and other US partners after April 8. Also, Voice of America’s congressional correspondent Kateryna Lisunova explained on the air of ” Briefing” that there are no guarantees yet that the legislators will immediately vote for the aid when it is brought up for consideration.

“Now we are not talking about the funding mechanism for Ukraine specifically. We are talking about the entire package of additional funding for partners,” Johnson said. Act, – a draft law that will allow the use of confiscated assets of Russian oligarchs and thus partially pay for aid to Ukraine. In addition, the concept of providing loan aid is being discussed.”

“There is a lot of thoughtful, focused work and discussion going on among lawmakers right now on this issue. We understand the role America plays in the world. We understand the importance of sending a strong signal to the world that we stand with our allies and cannot allow terrorists and tyrants to roam the world.” – said the speaker.

Instead, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, Democrat Nancy Pelosi, called for a vote on the bill, which has already passed the Senate. At the same time, according to her, it is now important to approve aid to Kyiv as soon as possible, so the democrats can also support an alternative version of the draft law. “Let’s agree on something and do it as soon as possible,” Pelosi said in an exclusive comment to Kateryna Lisunova.

Pelosi added, “It’s critical that we get this done, that Congress gets this done. The relief package has already passed the Senate with bipartisan support. We hope it will be taken up in the House. The speaker said he didn’t want to go that far. , before the government will finance it. This issue should be closed very soon, in a few days. So, hopefully, the next step will be aid to Ukraine.”

Instead, the leaders of Democrats and Republicans in the Senate are insisting on the approval of the Senate version of aid to Ukraine and partners, which has already been voted on and received 70 votes of bipartisan support.

Mitch McConnell, the leader of the Republicans in the Senate, said: “If Congress does its job, American weapons will end up in the hands of Ukrainians, and we here at home will get stronger military power and defense and industrial capabilities. It will also show what conclusions the world draws, watching for the first full-scale war in Europe since 1945”.

Every day that the supplemental funding package remains a Senate-only bill is “a day America’s adversaries laugh at,” McConnell added.

Chuck Schumer, the leader of the Democratic majority in the Senate, said: “It would not be an exaggeration to say that right now the survival of the Ukrainian people, the fate of American leadership in the world and the chances of Putin’s victory depend in large part on what Speaker Mike Johnson does in the near future. This in his will at any time to bring before the House of Representatives the bipartisan aid package that was approved by 70 votes in the Senate more than a month ago.”

Schumer reminded that this draft law will provide Ukraine with exactly what it lacks – military equipment, ammunition, intelligence support, advanced weapons and others.

https://www.holosameryky.com/a/dopomohu-ukraini-rozhljanut-cjoho-tyzhnja-abo-u-kvitni/7535576.html