LOS ANGELES.–Crossing a dangerous line, 61-year-old Polish Foreign Minister Radislaw Sikorski pressed 51-year-old House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to put up for a vote 81-year-old President Joe Biden’s $95 billion security bill containing $60 billion in aid for the Ukraine War. Sikorski was out-of-line as a EU foreign minister demanding the U.S. pony up more cash for Ukraine when the U.S. has already spent nearly $200 billion, over four times that amount of aid given by the EU. So, when it comes to lecturing the U.S. Congress how to vote, Sikorski is completely out-of-line when the EU could cover whatever the U.S. decides to give or not give. EU countries have a vested interest in paying to Ukraine’s defense if their security experts think that 71-year-old Russian President Vladimir Putin has his eyes on Poland and the Baltic States for a possible future takeover.
When it comes to Biden funding proxy war against the Kremlin, the U.S. has legitimate foreign policy and national security considerations about continuing the Ukraine War. Former President Donald Trump, 77, if he wins another term in 2024, promises to end the Ukraine War to reestablish diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation. Sikorski makes a feeble argument that Johnson holds up Ukrainian military assistance. EU officials control the purse-strings on how much they want to spend on the Ukraine War and humanitarian assistance to the bankrupt Kiev government. Ukraine’s 45-year-old President Volodymyr Zelensky, not House Speaker Mike Johnson, is responsible for going to war against the Kremlin with all its consequences. Speaking to the Atlantic Council, Sikorski, who has his own issues with Russia, blamed Johnson for holding up rearming Ukraine.
Zelensky says Ukraine has run out of armaments and needs additional funds to pay the hefty bills of defense contractors supplying more Patriot missiles and ammunition for various weapon systems needed for the war. Ukrainian officials blamed the U.S. for the recent loss of bombed out city of Avdivka because funding has been held up in Congress. But why does Sikorski think that what happens in Congress has anything to do with EU funding? “Therefore I’d like him [Johnson] to know that the whole world is watching what he would do and if the supplemental were not to pass and Ukraine was to suffer reversals on the battlefield it will be his responsibility,” Sikorksi said, talking like the EU is not primarily responsible for supplying the funding needed to back another European country dealing pressing military matters. Why Sikorski thinks it’s the U.S. responsibility is anyone’s guess.
If Sikorski were being more honest he might say that Biden is the one who decided to fund a proxy war against the Kremlim, so the EU should not be burdened with the same responsibility. Sikorski has his own issues in Poland having lived most of the Cold War under Soviet Union influence over Warsaw. Blaming U.S. Congress when it’s already spent four times the amount of the EU makes no sense. Why isn’t Sikorski taking his case to the European Commission where he could press President Ursula von der Leyen for more military aid for Ukraine. Poland has its own issues with Ukraine since it’s taken 1.5 million Ukrainian exiles in the last two years. Sikorski’s beef should be with the European Commission, not the U.S. Congress that has already authorized nearly $200 billion on military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Zelensky thinks it’s the U.S. obligation to fund the war.
Johnson has served notice to the White House and European Commission that U.S. taxpayers aren’t the only ones that should foot the bill for Ukraine. Poland has its own fears when it comes to the Russian Federation, wanting the U.S. to fund the proxy war against the Kremlin to prevent a future Russian invasion. But Poland is part of the EU and NATO, both responsible for territorial security. Telling Johnson that he would be personally responsible for what happens in Ukraine is outrageous. Zelensky could let U.N. peacemakers work on an acceptable end to the Ukraine conflict. Certainly Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee, has made a strong argument that Zelensky has choices on his own without expecting the U.S. to subsidize his bankrupt Kiev government and war with the Kremlin. Zelensky must decide Ukraine’s future.
Poland no doubt endures a hardship taking in 1.5 million refugees from the Ukraine War. But Poland’s Foreign Minister knows that Zelensky has many choices, including ending the war that continues to kill Ukraine citizens and destroy the economy. “Personally to Speaker Mike Johnson, please let democracy take its course. Please let’s pass this to a vote,” Sikorksi asked, stepping way out of line. Instead of blaming Johnson, why does Sikorski put the onus of Ursula von der Leyen at the European Commission or how about talking with Zelensky about letting U.N. peacemakers open up ceasefire and peace talks. Why does Sirkorski think it’s the U.S. burden to fund the Ukraine War? If Sikorski wants to continue the fight against the Kremlin, the EU needs to debate its priorities no expect the U.S. to foot the bill.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
