Mike Johnson removes pro-Kiev intelligence chair as conflict develops
3 Min Read
As the Russian-Ukrainian war nears its three-year mark, the latest developments see changes brought by the incoming US administration, more military aid demands for Kiev, and more US sanctions on Russia.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson of La., speaks before President-elect Donald Trump arrives at a meeting of the House GOP conference, on November 13, 2024, in Washington. (AP)
On Wednesday, Speaker of the US House of Representatives Mike Johnson removed fellow Republican Mike Turner, a strong advocate for providing aid to Ukraine, as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.
Johnson, who is closely aligned with Trump, stated he would soon appoint a new chair, citing the need for a "fresh start" for the intelligence community and the committee.
Meanwhile, Marco Rubio, the secretary of state nominee for President-elect Donald Trump’s administration, announced plans for "bold diplomacy" to address the war in Ukraine, noting that "concessions" would be required from Russia and Ukraine alike.
Zelensky asks for more money
This comes as Russia targeted Ukrainian energy facilities with missiles and drones, following Kiev’s announcement of its largest aerial offensive of the war on Russian military factories and energy infrastructure far from the frontlines.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attacks, claiming that Russia continues to target Ukraine’s energy sector in winter. The Ukrainian air force reported intercepting 30 missiles and 47 drones, while Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal declared the Russian assault a "failure".
Ukraine's national grid operator urged citizens to conserve electricity after lifting emergency blackouts in seven regions after Russian missile and drone strikes caused power outages and damaged critical infrastructure across several regions, including Kherson, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Lviv.
Zelensky, speaking in Warsaw with Polish President Andrzej Duda, urged Western nations to allocate $250 billion from frozen Russian assets to fund weapons for Ukraine. This follows the precedent after the EU disbursed €3 billion to Kiev as part of a loan backed by interest on Russian assets.
As Poland assumes the EU's rotating presidency, its Europe minister emphasized the need for Europe to take greater responsibility for its security amid rising geopolitical tensions and Donald Trump’s plans to address the Ukraine war if re-elected.
Biden's sanctions and their consequences
Meanwhile, the US announced sanctions targeting over 150 individuals and entities linked to Russia’s defense and military sectors.
According to Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, the outgoing US administration's sanctions targeting Russia and Serbia's energy sectors could lead to a significant rise in fuel prices across Europe.
"The outgoing US administration, which suffered a serious defeat in the presidential election, has recently introduced a new package of sanctions in the energy sector. This sanctions package once again creates serious challenges for Central Europe... The sanctions of the outgoing US administration could lead to a serious increase in fuel prices in Central Europe," Szijjarto stated in a video message shared on his social media platforms.
The minister emphasized that the inclusion of the Russian-Serbian oil company NIS in the sanctions list, where Russian energy giant Gazprom Neft holds a 56.15% stake, could result in an oil shortage in the European market. This, in turn, would drive up demand for oil products without a corresponding increase in supply.
Hungary plans to collaborate closely with regional partners to mitigate the potential fallout from the sanctions. "We will hold intensive talks with our regional partners in the coming days and weeks to minimize the impact of US energy sanctions on rising fuel prices," Szijjarto added.
