John Bolton presses Congress to pass Ukraine aid in wake of Navalny death

Former national security adviser John Bolton said Congress should pass more aid to Ukraine following the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

“The way we express our feelings, especially in the United States, is to get this support package for Ukraine approved and get us out of the political turmoil that we’ve been through, in large part for reasons that have nothing to do with Ukraine. I think so,”’ Bolton said in an interview on SiriusXM’s “The Julie Mason Show” on Friday.

President Biden also used his Friday remarks in the wake of Navalny’s death to press House Republicans to pass more aid to Ukraine. He said the death of the opposition leader was “a reminder of the crisis of this moment”.

“We must provide funding so Ukraine can continue to defend itself against President Putin’s heinous onslaught and war crimes,” Biden said.

The president added, “History is watching over the House.” “Our failure to support Ukraine at this critical moment will never be forgotten.”

Bolton said former President Trump opposed further aid to Ukraine, and “some Republicans are following his lead.” But he also said he believes a majority of the House “believes this aid should be approved.”

“I just hope they can get through the procedural quagmire that lies ahead,” Bolton continued.

The Senate has already passed a package that includes $60 billion in aid for Ukraine, but House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) said he doesn’t think it will be ready in time for a vote in the House.

The White House on Thursday criticized Johnson for recessing the House of Representatives and not bringing the Ukraine aid package to a vote in the Senate.

“Every day that Speaker Johnson worsens national security, America loses. And every day that he postpones a clean vote, Congressional Republicans’ standing with the American people diminishes,” White House Press Secretary Andrew said. Bates said. “Fleeing away for an early vacation only makes both problems worse.”