Ukraine Aid Package Clears House Hurdle; Prime Minister Hopes To See Weapons Soon

The $60.8 billion package to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia’s invasion survived a key procedural vote in the House Friday, teeing it up for final passage in the next few days.

The vote to allow the bill to the floor, over the strenuous objections of hard-line conservative House Republicans, was 316-94, with Democrats providing the majority of the support, 165 votes to Republicans’ 151.

Under a deal struck between House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Democratic leaders, Democrats are providing needed votes to move the package forward, which may put Johnson’s job in jeopardy.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who has threatened to call for a vote to oust Johnson as speaker, said she had gained another ally Friday in Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.). Together with Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) who has also cosponsored Greene’s motion, the trio has enough votes to boot Johnson unless he gets Democratic help.

However, Greene has yet to call for an actual vote on her ouster move, leaving the threat hanging over Johnson’s head.

Working with Democrats, though, was the only way to break the logjam over Ukraine aid, which the White House has been demanding for months, as well as two other aid packages, $26.4 billion for Israel and $8.1 billion for Taiwan and other Asian allies. Another bill would force the divestiture of TikTok’s U.S. operations to an American company.

The bills will be voted on separately Saturday in the House and then bundled together into one bill for an up-or-down vote in the Senate. The Senate is expected to clear it easily for President Joe Biden to sign it into law.

For Ukrainian leaders, the package is essential if the country is to continue the bloody fight with Russia that began in early 2022.