Republican Congressman anticipates Ukraine aid approval within a week

"The United States must step up and provide Ukraine with the weapons it needs," he said live.

Apr 15, 2024 - 11:09

Republican Congressman anticipates Ukraine aid approval within a week

Republican Congressman Mike Turner expects the House of Representatives to support a bill this week providing military aid to Ukraine and Israel.

When asked by the NBC News host if he anticipates a vote on the bill this week, Turner affirmed his expectation that it will pass. “Russia is starting to gain ground. Ukraine is beginning to lose its ability to defend itself. The United States must step up and provide Ukraine with the weapons it needs. And I think this week we will see overwhelming support for this in the House of Representatives.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson stated that this week, Congress will try to pass legislation with additional aid for Israel as well. “The House Republicans and the Republican Party understand the necessity of standing with Israel. We’re going to try again this week, and the details of that package are being put together right now. We’re looking at the options and all these supplemental issues,” CNN reported Johnson as saying, without specifying whether it would be the Senate-approved bill that includes aid to Ukraine and Israel or a new bill.

Meanwhile, Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the House must pass the national security aid package that includes funding for Israel and Ukraine. “Given the events of tonight, it is even clearer that the best way to help Israel is for the House to quickly pass the Senate’s bipartisan national security supplemental next week.”

Previously on Friday, Speaker Johnson discussed a bill on aid to Ukraine and Israel with White House officials, differing from the Senate’s $95 billion support package and including some Republican demands. Afterwards, he visited Trump, who said he supports approving financial aid to Ukraine but in the form of a loan.

Democrats in both chambers signaled willingness to discuss Ukraine aid as a loan if it finally resolves the issue, although not their preferred option. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently stated Ukraine would agree to credit aid from the US if no other options existed.

Recent efforts to secure US aid for Ukraine have been fraught with delays and political maneuvering. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, during a visit to Kyiv, reassured Ukrainian officials of the US commitment to delivering military aid, although he provided no specific updates regarding the provision of long-range ATACMS missiles.

The approval process in the US House of Representatives has been particularly contentious. Speaker Mike Johnson has been criticized for delaying the vote on the aid package, with discussions continuing around including US-Mexico border restrictions in the new bill. The House is not expected to act until late March or April, which has caused international concern and criticism given the urgent need for military assistance in Ukraine as it continues to face Russian aggression.

President Joe Biden and other US officials have expressed frustration over the delays, emphasizing the critical nature of the aid to Ukraine’s defense capabilities and broader international security concerns. Biden has pointed out that the delays are playing into Russian President Vladimir Putin’s strategy, which banks on US inaction.

Amid these delays, a new military aid package was announced by Jake Sullivan, totaling $300 million, marking the first such aid in 2024. This package includes GLMRS projectiles for HIMARS systems, crucial for Ukraine’s ongoing defense efforts.

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