House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Thursday that there is no support for a new Ukraine funding bill, Reuters reported, News.bg reports.
“There is no appetite for it”, Johnson told Newsmax at the Conservative Political Action Conference. He made the comment in response to a question about whether he expects a new Ukraine funding bill if the war drags on for a few more months.
“We need to end the war. And I can tell you that our European allies understand the need for that as well. The conflict has dragged on for too long,” Johnson added.
His comments come amid growing uncertainty about future U.S. support for Kiev. President Donald Trump has reversed U.S. policy, ending a campaign to isolate Russia. He spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin and arranged talks between senior U.S. and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia – without Ukraine present.
On February 18, Trump said Ukraine was to blame for the Russian invasion in 2022, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused him of spreading Russian disinformation.
Last April, Johnson angered many of his fellow Republicans by allowing a bill to pass that included $61 billion in military aid for Ukraine. The bill passed with more support from Democrats than Republicans.
Now, Johnson is adamant that the conflict must end. "Both Russia and Ukraine have suffered heavy losses. President Trump is absolutely right - it's time for this war to end, and he has the power to do so," he said.
Regarding the fact that Ukraine was not invited to the meeting in Saudi Arabia, Johnson described Zelensky's "complaint" as "inappropriate."
"What Trump is trying to do is create the conditions for real negotiations, and we should allow him to do so," the House speaker stressed.