House Speaker Mike Johnson is in talks with the White House, preparing to advance aid for Ukraine as well as Israel through the House of Representatives, the AP writes, citing leading House Republican Steve Scalise.
Scalise told reporters that Johnson had discussed with White House officials have proposed a package that would be different from the Senate's $95 billion support package and would include several Republican demands.
"An agreement was not reached. Obviously, an agreement must be reached not only with the White House, but also with our own members,” – Scalise said.
In addition, the Republican speaker intends to travel to former US President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida on Friday for a meeting.
Johnson has been consulting in recent weeks with him on financing Ukraine in order to enlist his support – or at least to prevent him from openly opposing the package, the agency said.
Senator Markwayne Mullin, an Oklahoma Republican, said this week that he and Trump are “deeply” discussed with Johnson ways to move forward with aid to Ukraine.
It is unclear whether Trump will express any political support for the package, but Mullin said he hopes to have the former president's support, especially now that Johnson's job is on the line.
Prepared by: Nina Petrovich