As foreign leaders urge US Ukraine support, Republicans look to Trump

12/4/2024 18:06

        An unprecedented series of foreign officials, including from Japan, Britain and Italy, have visited Washington over the past several months and appealed to congressional Republicans to approve more military aid for Ukraine.
        
        But those lawmakers may listen to a different voice entirely - former president, and current Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump.
        
        Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida used an address to a joint meeting of Congress on Thursday to urge lawmakers to overcome "self-doubt" about the country's role on the world stage, warning that Ukraine's hopes "would collapse" without U.S. support.
        
        He spoke on a dais in the House of Representatives chamber with Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, a close Trump ally who for months has declined to allow a House vote on legislation already passed by the Democratic-led Senate providing $60 billion in aid for Ukraine.
        
        Johnson is due to meet with Trump in Florida on Friday, fueling speculation about whether he will clear a vote on Biden's national security spending request as soon as next week.