Polish PM warns House Speaker Mike Johnson that ‘thousands of lives’ are at risk due to failure to pass more Ukraine aid
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) Tuesday that he’s putting “thousands of lives in Ukraine” at risk by turning the issue of whether to approve aid to the war-torn country into a political football.
Such a strong statement from a foreign leader to a US congressman is unusual, and it comes as efforts to pass $60 billion in military assistance for Ukraine have stalled in the lower chamber.
“The lack of a decision to unblock aid to Ukraine is very important for Ukraine, for the United States, for the entire Western community,” Tusk told reporters in Washington Tuesday, after meeting with President Biden and his staff. “We need to stop speculation whether the United States will continue to be involved in helping Ukraine.”
Tusk then took aim at Johnson, indicating that he hopes “the voice from Poland will influence, and change the attitude of the speaker of the House” before issuing a stark warning.
“Mr. Johnson, he must be aware , and I hope that he is already aware, that on his individual decision depends the fate of millions of people,” the Polish leader said.
“In fact, on his decision depends thousands of lives in Ukraine.”
“This is not some political skirmish that only matters here in America,” Tusk added. “The absence of this positive decision of Mr. Johnson will really cost thousands of lives there: children, women.”
“He must be aware of his personal responsibility.”
Johnson’s office did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
Biden’s “urgent budget request” for more than $60 billion in additional spending for Ukraine dates back to last October.
Last month, the Senate approved $95 billion in aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan in a bipartisan 70-29 vote.
The measure, however, was dead on arrival in the Republican-controlled House, where conservative hardliners have demanded that any foreign assistance be offset by spending cuts.
Tusk’s warning comes on the same day the White House announced that the US will send Ukraine up to $300 million worth of military equipment – the first aid tranche to be dispatched to the war-torn nation in more than two months.
The weapons and ammo package will come from existing US stockpiles, senior defense officials told reporters at the Pentagon.
“When Russian troops advance and its guns fire, Ukraine does not have enough ammunition to fire back,” National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Tuesday. “That’s costing terrain, it’s costing lives, and it’s costing us the United States and the NATO alliance strategically.”
“The world is watching, the clock is ticking and we need to see action as rapidly as possible, even as we do everything in our power to get Ukraine what it needs in its hour of need,” he added, urging the House to pass Biden’s supplemental spending request.
