US House Speaker Mike Johnson has long refused to support Ukraine unless there are provisions in the document to protect the southern border. However, in the end the American changed his mind about this campaign.
Journalists from the New York Times said it was Johnson’s decision to put it to a vote bill for aid to Ukraine influenced by nominal information data, political pressure and changes in personal beliefs.
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Johnson changed his decision about aid to Ukraine due to several factors
The authors of the material confirmed that as a strong supporter of a hard line in the Republican Party, Johnson was against providing money for Kyiv’s military efforts until the conditions for the southern border of the United States were met. to strengthen. However, on the eve of the decisive vote, Johnson’s situation changed dramatically.
I want to be on the right side of history. Now is a critical time. I could have made a selfish decision and done something different. But I’m doing what I think is right here. And I believe that providing lethal aid to Ukraine now is extremely important,
– the politician told reporters at the Capitol.
Johnson attributed the change of heart to information suggesting that Vladimir Putin may not stop in Ukraine and that he is also a threat to the Baltic states.
“I really believe this information. I think Vladimir Putin would continue to march through Europe if he was allowed. I think he could go against the Baltics next speaker.
This change of heart was also confirmed during talks in the Oval Office of the White House, where senior national security officials emphasized the importance of strengthening the Ukrainian air defense system with American weapons.
During that meeting, CIA Director William Burns and other senior national security officials tried to convince Johnson of how quickly Ukraine was running out of weapons and how dire the consequences would be if there were no weapons. America strengthened further.
Convinced that they will accept his way of thinking, Johnson has repeatedly asked Republicans to receive the same briefings.
– they noted to NYT journalists.
In addition, according to journalists, Johnson, during meetings with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and others, was struck by stories about the level of suffering that Russian soldiers have caused in the country. All this hurt Christian Johnson’s feelings.
At the same time, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as the NYT writes, had political pressure from both Democrats and Republicans to help Ukraine.
When he agreed to put the aid package to a vote, he faced a wave of anger from the right wing of the Republican Party, which accused Johnson of treason and repeatedly called on him to change course. However, the politician noted that he is not worried about his own position as speaker, but that he is very worried about Ukraine’s ability to contain Russia without the help of the SA. Journalists noted that this was the culmination of his remarkable personal and political evolution.
Contrary to standard protocol, the Speaker did not provide a rationale for partner relief bills on the House floor, but highlighted the importance of relief in a brief speech after the legislation passed.
2024-04-21 18:05:00
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