Will the new US Speaker spell trouble for aid to Ukraine?

For the past few weeks, the US House Speaker’s chair has sat empty. Kevin McCarthy was ousted from the position on 3 October amid accusations from some Republicans that he was colluding with Democrats in a ‘secret deal’ to assist Ukraine. While the position has been vacant, critical legislation, including aid for Ukraine, has not been able to pass. But with the election of Mike Johnson, an ally of Donald Trump who is known to be Ukraine-sceptic, US politicians may have chosen their stance on the conflict.

This development follows a decline in support for aid to Ukraine among both Democratic and Republican voters. Republicans for Ukraine, an advocacy group seeking support for Kyiv within the party, gave Johnson an ‘F’ (the lowest score) on their so-called report card, which grades congressional Republicans on their votes for aid and statements about the war. While Johnson supported providing lend-lease assistance to Ukraine, he consistently advocated for reducing aid to Kyiv.