A prominent billboard emerged near Mike Johnson’s local church in Benton, Louisiana at the end of February.
The billboard contained a quote from a Bible passage, “For such a time as this,” along with an image of a damaged Baptist church in Berdyansk, Ukraine, directed at Johnson.
Funded by Razom, a Ukrainian human rights organization, the advertisement aimed to leverage Johnson’s profound Christian beliefs and his influential position as Speaker of the House of Representatives to secure substantial US financing for Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s complete invasion.
The efforts bore fruit as Johnson surprised Washington and US allies by allowing the House to approve the aid last week, unlocking $95bn for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.
The Senate also endorsed the package on Tuesday night, enabling President Joe Biden to enact it into law by Wednesday. Immediately, the Pentagon announced the dispatch of $1bn in weaponry from US military reserves, a critical aid as Russian forces posed a threat to overwhelm Ukrainian defenses.
This marked a significant shift for Johnson, who had previously opposed aid to Ukraine and had obstructed a vote on new support for months as House Speaker. It concluded a lengthy campaign by intelligence officials, White House personnel, European diplomats, and Ukrainian evangelical Christians to persuade him.
Close associates of Johnson maintain that he has always been compassionate towards the Ukrainian people’s plight and had been striving for a resolution to satisfy conflicting factions within the Republican party, including isolationists who had threatened to remove him due to his pro-Ukraine stance.
In October, shortly after assuming the role of Speaker, the White House began engaging with Johnson regarding Ukraine, with initial briefings from US national security adviser Jake Sullivan. By February, President Biden intervened directly, urging Johnson to expedite the legislation providing support to Kyiv and Israel.
Chuck Schumer, the Senate majority leader, characterized the meeting as one of the “most intense” discussions he had been a part of. Despite the intense negotiations, Johnson left without revealing his decision.
European nations, fearing a loss of US support for Ukraine, scrambled to secure alternate funding, with Ukrainian military leaders cautioning about depleting ammunition.
Retrospectively, observers of the Oval Office meeting argue that it played a crucial role in influencing Johnson’s readiness to negotiate. The session included key figures such as Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic House leader, and Mitch McConnell, the Republican Senate minority leader, who were briefed on Ukraine by Sullivan and CIA director Bill Burns.
Following additional briefings by Burns and high-ranking Pentagon officials, Johnson felt compelled by the intelligence presented.
Emphasizing the importance of accountability in Ukraine funding and advocating for increased sanctions on Russian entities, Johnson worked on solidifying his position within the party.
During a meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago on April 12, Johnson informed Trump of his intentions to support Ukraine financially. Trump, initially pushed by foreign leaders like UK foreign secretary Lord David Cameron, expressed his approval, albeit in a subdued manner.
Iran’s attack on Israel on April 13 shifted the landscape, prompting Johnson to put forth a comprehensive national security proposal upon Congress’s return.
He deliberated with Biden and underlined the urgency brought about by the attack on Israel, emphasizing the necessity of standing behind US allies.
The approved legislation included $26bn in assistance to Israel and the allocated funds for Kyiv.
Johnson underscored the gravity of his decision, particularly as his son prepared to join the US Naval Academy, stating that he preferred aiding Ukraine with resources over putting American lives in danger. He asserted the importance of making the right choices for history to judge favorably.
Unguryan, the evangelical leader, refrained from divulging the specifics of his discussions with Johnson but emphasized the Speaker’s prayers for the Ukrainian cause.
“Speaker Johnson was seeking divine guidance to make the crucial decision,” he stated.
Additional reporting by Felicia Schwartz in Washington
Source: www.ft.com