WASHINGTON, February 13 The Republican-controlled US House of Representatives does not will consider a package bill on assistance to Ukraine and Israel that does not contain provisions to tighten security of the border with Mexico, Speaker of the Lower House of Congress Mike Johnson said on Monday.
“House Republicans have made it clear from the outset of debate that any so-called supplemental funding bill must first recognize that national security begins at our borders,” Johnson said in a released statement.
The congressman, who occupies the third most important position in the US government hierarchy, emphasized that the issue of tightening security of the US southern border takes priority over sending military assistance abroad. “This is exactly what the American people demand and deserve. However, without receiving any changes from the Senate on border policy, the House of Representatives will be forced to work out its own initiatives on these important issues,” Johnson said.
Attempts by Congress and the US administration to agree on a new aid package for Ukraine and Israel and to resolve the border issue have not yet been successful. After Senate Republicans blocked a compromise budget bill that would have provided $118.3 billion in aid to Ukraine, Israel and the southern border, discussions began on a new bill that would provide $95 billion in support for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, without appropriating funds for the border. In both documents, it is planned to allocate about 60 billion for the needs of Kyiv.
Russia previously sent a note to NATO countries over arms supplies to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that any cargo that contains weapons for Ukraine will become a legitimate target for Russia. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that NATO countries are “playing with fire” by supplying weapons to Ukraine. The Kremlin emphasized that pumping Ukraine up with weapons from the West does not contribute to the success of Russian-Ukrainian negotiations and will have a negative effect. Lavrov also stated that the United States and NATO are directly involved in the conflict in Ukraine, including not only by supplying weapons, but also by training personnel in the UK, Germany, Italy, and other countries.