President Biden Willing to Meet with Republican House Speaker over Ukraine Aid
President Biden Expresses Willingness to Meet with Speaker Johnson
U.S. President Joe Biden has expressed his willingness to meet with House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson to discuss a funding bill for Ukraine’s war against Russia. He stated that Republicans are making a mistake by opposing the aid package.
Senate Passes $95 Billion Aid Package for Ukraine
The Senate recently passed a $95 billion aid package in a bipartisan vote, which includes funds for Ukraine. However, Speaker Johnson has so far declined to bring it up for a vote on the House floor, despite demands for a meeting with Biden.
Biden Open to Meeting with Speaker Johnson
President Biden has expressed his openness to meeting with Speaker Johnson, stating, “Sure I’d be happy to meet with him, if he has anything to say.”
Congress Faces Urgent Deadline to Avert Government Shutdown
Congress is not due back in Washington until Feb. 28, when it will face an urgent deadline to avert a partial government shutdown that would begin on March 1 absent action by lawmakers.
Republicans’ Opposition to Ukraine Aid Criticized by Biden
Biden criticized Republicans for opposing aid to Ukraine, stating that it is a big mistake to walk away from the threat of Russia and NATO. He expressed shock at their stance, saying, “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Speaker Johnson Welcomes Biden’s Openness to Meeting
Speaker Johnson’s spokesperson, Raj Shah, said on Monday that the speaker had sought a one-on-one meeting with Biden for weeks and welcomed Biden’s “openness to meeting with Speaker Johnson about the best path forward for securing the nation. It’s long overdue.”
U.S. Considering More Sanctions on Russia
Biden also mentioned that the United States is considering imposing more sanctions on Russia following the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in a Russian penal colony in the Arctic region last Friday.
Biden Blames Putin for Navalny’s Death
President Biden blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for Navalny’s death and warned that there could be consequences, stating he was “not surprised” but “outraged” by the opposition leader’s passing.
