On Ukraine financing, the Biden administration is waging a public pressure campaign to shame the top Republican.

US President Joe Biden and House Speaker Mike Johnson have virtually no contact. The two men who hold the most powerful elected positions in the country don’t interact often. They have decades of age difference and huge differences in political philosophy, writes Politico.

It is noted that the lack of constructive relations between them led to political contradictions. That puts additional pressure on the government this week as the March 1 funding deadline approaches and problems with approving aid to Ukraine weigh on them.

When Johnson was unexpectedly named speaker, very few of the president’s inner circle or his legislative staff had any dealings with him, according to two Biden aides.

Johnson and Biden first met briefly in late October when the newly elected speaker attended a Situation Room meeting. Since then, the speaker has attended meetings at the White House with other lawmakers. The most meaningful conversation between the two came during a phone call last month, shortly after Johnson visited the southern border. However, it does not seem to have helped bridge the gap between them, the authors write.

Additionally, the White House has not granted Johnson’s request for a meeting soon, but the two are likely to meet on Feb. 27, when the four congressional leaders visit the Biden administration, where the president plans to discuss both additional and government funding.

There has been growing speculation recently among senior White House aides that it was the refusal of Johnson’s request for a meeting about border security that further exacerbated tensions in the relationship.

“On the issue of Ukraine funding, the Biden administration is waging a public pressure campaign to shame Johnson into holding a vote on the floor… Biden takes pride in his personal interactions with Congress, especially with Republicans. That he lacks these variables in his relationship with the Speaker House of Representatives, is no small matter,” the publication says.

There is an opinion that Johnson’s main task is not to end up on the wrong side of Donald Trump. Over time, the president’s aides began to view Johnson as a useful political cover who could distract swing voters and help Biden in the election.

According to journalists, the president criticized the speaker for announcing a break in the House of Representatives without considering the issue of financing Ukraine. Some West Wing aides and members of Johnson’s conservative flank have warned that bringing Ukraine aid to the House floor would spark an attempt to oust him as speaker, as was the case with his predecessor, Kevin McCarthy.

On Ukraine, given Johnson’s refusal to participate in the Senate bill, the administration has limited options other than trying to apply political pressure on congressional Republicans.

Republican Congressman Don Bacon predicted that if the bill were brought to a vote, it would pass “by 300 votes.” Other lawmakers have made similar assessments. But Johnson’s top aide called the strategy “unwise.”

In addition, the most pressing issue in the coming weeks is the government funding deadlines of March 1st and 8th.

Problems with US help for Ukraine

The US Senate was able to approve a bill that provides assistance to Ukraine in the amount of more than $60 billion. Now the document must be approved by the House of Representatives. However, Speaker Mike Johnson refused to register the document in the House of Representatives, after which Congress went on a two-week vacation.

President Joe Biden will meet with congressional leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, at the White House on February 27 to speed up aid to Ukraine.