Johnson huddles with Zelensky amid calls for additional aid
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House Speaker Mike Johnson. Photo: Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) huddled with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Capitol on Wednesday, with future support for the country being a focal point for world leaders in D.C. for the NATO summit.
Why it matters: The meeting marks the first time the two have met in person since Johnson put his own political career at risk by putting a sweeping foreign aid package on the floor in April.
- Johnson met with the Ukrainian president for just over 20 minutes, where Zelensky thanked him for his effort to support them in the fight against Russia.
- "He provided an update ... on the current status of the situation. And you know, expressed their gratitude for the assistance of the United States and their hope that they can prevail there and that you know, good will triumph over evil," Johnson told Axios.
- Johnson said they discussed restrictions on U.S.-supplied weapons used in Russian territory, telling reporters: "I explained that the will of Congress was to allow them the flexibility to use the weapons and assistance that were sent to prosecute the war as they see fit. So I'm a supporter of that."
Zoom out: Zelensky has called on world leaders "not to wait for November, or any other month", to provide additional support to the war-ravaged country.
- "It's time to step out of the shadows, to make strong decisions work, to act and not to wait for November or any other month," Zelensky said at the Ronald Reagan Institute on Tuesday.
- "To this end, we must be strong and uncompromising altogether. And first of all ... the leaders of America, and the president of the United States as a leader of the free world, to be uncompromising in defending democracy."
- Johnson said the two did not discuss additional aid or Ukrainian concerns about how the 2024 election will impact the country's continued support.
Former President Trump has indicated he would withhold additional aid unless Ukraine engaged in peace talks with Russia.
The big picture: Republicans are divided over Ukraine, with Trump coming out against the aid package earlier this year.
- Johnson came under fire from conservative hardliners, with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) going as far as trying to oust him from his leadership position over Ukraine funding.
