Republican Speaker Johnson makes fresh push for Ukraine aid - BBC News

Speaker Mike Johnson has a plan for how to cover costs - but is also trying to hold onto his power.

5 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsWar in UkraineImage source, Getty ImagesBy Anthony ZurcherBBC North America correspondentRepublican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has a plan for getting new military assistance for Ukraine approved by Congress - and for keeping his tenuous hold on power.

With Democrats wary and a Republican right flank eyeing open rebellion, however, Mr Johnson may find that even the best-laid plans could quickly unravel.

The Louisiana congressman told Fox News he would push the House - which has the narrowest of Republican majorities - to structure new Ukraine support in the form of loans.

To help cover the costs he suggested authorising the US government to seize and sell Russian assets frozen since the start of the Ukraine war.

"If we can use the seized assets of Russian oligarchs to allow the Ukrainians to fight them, that's just pure poetry," said Mr Johnson.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68710298

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