We need to know that Ukraine would not be another Afghanistan: US SoTH
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US House Speaker Mike Johnson has announced that the federal government would not be funded through an omnibus spending bill.
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Rep. Mike Johnson, Republican-Louisiana, takes the oath to be the new House speaker at the Capitol in Washington, on October 25, 2023. (AP)
US House Speaker Mike Johnson stated, on Wednesday, that the US House of Representatives will not finance the federal government through an omnibus spending bill.
"Certainly, we’re not going to have an omnibus," Johnson said.
House Republicans will not achieve all their desired outcomes in negotiations, given their narrow majority in the lower chamber of Congress, as per Johnson.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the US House Speaker vowed to persist in seeking information from the Biden administration regarding its objectives in the Ukraine war and initiatives to ensure accountability for US aid.
"With regard to Ukraine: we have needed, we have requested — publicly, privately, in every forum — answers to the critical questions," Johnson said during a press conference.
"What is the endgame and the strategy in Ukraine? How will we have accountability for the funds? We need to know that Ukraine would not be another Afghanistan," he added.
Johnson mentioned that he plans to convey his stance to President Joe Biden in a meeting later on Wednesday. He emphasized that prioritizing the security of the United States' borders should take precedence before any other actions.
In November, Congress approved a "laddered" continuing resolution, extending funding for two distinct segments of the government until January 19 and February 2. There is now contemplation of an additional continuing resolution that would extend funding until March 1 and 8.
Johnson expressed optimism about the possibility of passing 12 individual appropriations bills before the upcoming government funding deadlines.
Military aid to Ukraine 'ground to a halt'; US funding over: Kirby
Earlier this month, White House National Security Spokesperson John Kirby announced that all military aid to Ukraine has been suspended.
“We have issued the last drawdown package that we had funding to support, and that’s why it’s critical that Congress move on that national security supplemental request,” Kirby said, noting that US military support for Ukraine has "ground to a halt."
At the time, White House and Senate negotiators revealed that they were on the verge of finalizing a comprehensive deal for a supplemental bill aimed at funding aid to Ukraine and US national security measures, including enhanced border security.
Ukraine's frustration with its funders
Meanwhile, Congress is still inherently divided, and the European Union still debates its direction and the mobilization of all its capabilities, especially as Ukraine has not met military expectations despite a large abundance of funds.
In December, Josep Borrell warned against a victorious Russia, saying, "And if we don't change course rapidly if we don't mobilize all our capacities, it will let [Russian President Vladimir] Putin win the war in Ukraine."
"The important thing is what we can do in order to avoid Russia winning the war. What are we ready to do? Are we really ready to do everything it takes? This is the question that we have to put ourselves," Borrell was quoted as saying by The Guardian.
Read more: Putin: Ukraine war a 'great tragedy' resulting from Western desires
