In a remarkable display of unity, the speakers of 23 European parliaments, along with the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, have joined forces in an open letter to the speaker of the US House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, urging him to bring forward a draft law for a substantial aid package for Ukraine. The communication emphasizes the collective European position on the necessity of continuing support for Ukraine amidst its ongoing conflict with Russia.
The letter, which has garnered widespread support from European leaders, explicitly calls for the submission of the draft law HR 815, which, having passed the US Senate, seeks to allocate $60.06 billion in military aid to Ukraine. The aid is seen as a crucial element in Ukraine’s resistance to Russian aggression and is considered by the European signatories to be a significant investment in both individual and collective security.
Ruslan Stefanchuk, the head of Ukraine’s parliament, who initiated the letter, relayed on his Facebook page the collective message to Speaker Johnson: “In this open letter we, the heads of the parliaments, ask our American colleague to submit to the US House of Representatives the bill HR 815 on international aid…which provides for an allocation of $60.06 billion for assistance to Ukraine.”
Stefanchuk further highlighted the procedural power held by Speaker Johnson in the US House of Representatives to advance the draft law for consideration. The European leaders’ letter articulates a strong expectation of historic bipartisan unity within Congress under Johnson’s leadership, bolstering collective efforts to support Ukraine.
The cross-parliamentary letter, signed by leaders from countries including Germany, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Portugal, North Macedonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, the Czech Republic, and more, underscores a resolute stance against what they refer to as “the axis of evil.” The letter states, “The axis of evil must be defeated, and all perpetrators brought to justice. This will serve as a significant deterrent to further conflict and will return a sense of control and security to our people.”
While Raj Shah, a spokesman for Speaker Johnson, has indicated that the speaker’s immediate priority is funding the government to avoid a shutdown, he also acknowledges the importance of confronting Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The European plea arrives at a critical juncture, as uncertainty looms over the path forward for US assistance to Ukraine two years post the full-scale invasion by Russia. With the Senate package in question, which besides Ukraine aid, includes funding for allies in Israel and Asia, the European leaders are expressing an urgency for the House to act.
The letter further exhibits the commitment of the signing nations to increase their support to Ukraine and its defense forces, a sentiment echoed in the tenor of the dialogue between these European leaders and their American counterparts.
Relevant articles:
– 23 European Parliaments Unite in Open Letter Urging US House Speaker to Provide Aid for Ukraine
– Europeans press US House Speaker Johnson for Ukraine aid vote, Semafor, Wed, 28 Feb 2024 14:45:00 GMT
– Leaders of 23 nations’ legislatures urge US House speaker to take up $60 billion Ukraine aid bill, Yahoo News Australia, Wed, 28 Feb 2024 17:24:00 GMT
– Speakers of 23 parliaments address their US counterpart Mike Johnson regarding support for Ukraine, Ukrainska Pravda, Wed, 28 Feb 2024 09:26:41 GMT