In the Republican-controlled House of Representatives in the United States of America (USA), Speaker Mike Johnson blocked the aid package for Ukraine passed by the Senate.
Johnson, known to be close to former President Donald Trump, who is expected to run in the November elections, said he would not even put the bill on the agenda for a vote.
Upon the question of the press, “Will you put the bill on the agenda for a vote?” Johnson replied, “I certainly will not.”
US President Joe Biden had said that the passage of the bill on the aid package was vital to stand up to “Russian dictator” Vladimir Putin.
After much debate, the Senate yesterday approved a $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. Of this amount, $60 billion is planned for Ukraine and $14.1 billion for Israel.
Of the remainder, $9.2 billion will be allocated for humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, the West Bank and Ukraine, and $4.8 billion will be sent to US allies in the Indo-Pacific region.
Johnson: Priority is security on the Mexican border
The issue of Ukraine’s security cannot be resolved without tough new measures to stop illegal migration across the Mexican border into the United States, House Speaker Mike Johnson said after the vote in the Senate.
“We really owe it to the American people to take complete control of this border,” Johnson said.
Meanwhile, Republican Senator Bill Cassidy lashed out at his party in a statement after Johnson blocked the aid bill.
“I’m incredibly disappointed because I think this is a fraud against the American people,” Cassidy said.
Biden accuses Trump of turning the border issue with Mexico into political blackmail.
