April 2, 2024 (EIRNS)—House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), in a TV interview March 31, said that he will propose taking assets of Russia’s Central Bank, which Western banks have illegally frozen, and deploying them to fund U.S. military arms to be sent to Ukraine. Doing this would escalate U.S. confrontation with Russia.
In a Fox News interview on “Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdey,” Johnson said that Ukraine aid will come up “right after” Congressional recess and will include some “’innovations.” As for innovations, Johnson mentioned making loans to Ukraine and brought up the REPO for Ukrainians Act. Johnson boasted, “The REPO Act, you know—if we can use the seized assets of Russian oligarchs to allow Ukrainians to fight them, that’s just pure poetry.”
The REPO for Ukrainians Act, or “Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity (REPO) for Ukrainians Act,” is a bill drafted by the Biden White House. In the Senate, it is sponsored by Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Jim Risch (R-ID), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The Act passed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee by 20-1 on Jan. 24. According to a press release by Senator Whitehouse, the Act
“Ensures Putin foots the bill for the damage caused by Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
“Gives the President the authority to confiscate Russian sovereign assets that have been frozen in the United States and transfer them to assist in Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts.
