Radoslaw Sikorski, the foreign minister for North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member nation Poland, issued a strong warning against Speaker of the House Mike Johnson on Monday regarding the state of aid to Ukraine.
Military forces in Ukraine are struggling with shortages of ammunition and other resources as they continue to contend with Russian invaders after over two years. In light of these struggles, considerable attention has fallen on the U.S. and the state of its continued military aid for Ukraine, which the nation's leaders and others across Europe have deemed essential for preventing a Russian victory.
Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, recently came under fire after sending the House of Representatives on a two-week recess without voting on a measure to provide aid to Ukraine. A $95 billion international aid package previously passed in the Senate, 70-30, but was not brought to the House floor for a vote before the recess. The package includes $61 billion for Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel, and $4.83 billion for U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific region, including Taiwan. It would also provide $9.15 billion in humanitarian aid to conflict zones, like Gaza, Israel, and Ukraine.
Speaking before the Atlantic Council think tank on Monday, Reuters reported, Sikorski noted how Johnson "has in the past spoken warmly about Ukraine" and urged him to get the aid for Ukraine passed. He also warned that should the aid not be passed, any Russian successes on the battlefield would be his responsibility.
"Therefore I'd like him to know that the whole world is watching what he would do and if the supplemental [aid package] were not to pass and Ukraine was to suffer reversals on the battlefield it will be his responsibility," Sikorski said.
Newsweek reached out to Johnson's office on Tuesday afternoon via email for comment. Any responses received will be added to this story in a later update.
Following an Oval Office meeting on Tuesday afternoon, it was reported that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, President Joe Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris all leaned on Johnson to get aid for Ukraine passed. According to an X post from CBS News reporter Scott McFarlane, Democratic leaders called the meeting "intense."
Speaking to reporters himself after the meeting, Johnson said only that "we'll get the government funded" and that the GOP's top priority is still border security. He departed without taking questions. Many on X were quick to point out after the comments that Johnson recently opposed a bipartisan Senate bill with major border reforms, allegedly after pressure from Donald Trump.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Thomas Kika is a Newsweek weekend reporter based in upstate New York. His focus is reporting on crime and national ... Read more
