(Reuters) – According to a senior Ukrainian official, the appointment of Mike Johnson, a U.S. Republican known for opposing aid to Ukraine, as speaker of the House of Representatives will not impact the crucial assistance provided by Washington to Kyiv.
Johnson, who assumed the role of House speaker on Wednesday, expressed his support for further aid to Ukraine but specified that it should come with conditions, including accountability and clear objectives from the White House.
Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, praised Johnson’s election as beneficial for Ukraine as it put an end to a three-week leadership vacuum in the House.
In televised comments, Danilov stated, “I’m confident that collaboration and assistance will continue,” in response to concerns about the future of aid following discussions within the United States to review or reduce assistance to Kyiv.
He also addressed Johnson’s statement about wanting to scrutinize the aid provided, saying, “This is completely normal. We are more than willing to share all information regarding the aid; there are no secrets.”
Ukraine heavily relies on support from its partners, both in terms of military and economic assistance. The recent discussions in the United States have raised questions about the fate of this aid.
Last week, U.S. President Joe Biden urged Congress to approve a $106 billion funding package, a portion of which includes billions of dollars in assistance for Ukraine.
Reported by Yuliia Dysa, the article highlights that Ukraine remains optimistic about the continuation of cooperation and aid, despite concerns arising from Johnson’s appointment, and the Ukrainian government is ready to share all required information about the aid to address any reservations.
The article was edited by Tom Balmforth and Deborah Kyvrikosaios.
