Zelensky's visit highlights that freedom is winning in Ukraine -- for now
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine made his career in comedy, but the Russian invasion of his country 10 months ago has brought out his talent for drama — of the most inspiring kind. Standing before a joint session of Congress on Wednesday, Mr. Zelensky thanked the United States for its military and financial support, presented a flag signed by troops defending the the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut and characterized his country’s struggle as the front line in a global battle for freedom and democracy against tyrants seeking to rewrite the international order. Likening the war in Ukraine to the American Revolution, he declared that “the Russian tyranny has lost control over us.”
“Ukrainian courage and American resolve must guarantee the future of our common freedom,” he said.
His address culminated a whirlwind of events that included President Biden’s official confirmation that the United States will send a Patriot missile-defense system to Ukraine. The Patriots will help protect against Russian aerial bombardment — Moscow fired 76 missiles on Friday night alone, 16 of which penetrated Ukraine’s air defense. The onslaught has destroyed half of Ukraine’s electric power infrastructure, according to the United Nations. A fresh package of $44.9 billion in economic and military aid, included in Congress’s must-pass omnibus spending bill, will bring total U.S. support since the war began to $110 billion.
Massive as this support is, it amounts neither to everything Mr. Zelensky wants nor everything he and his people need. The symbolism of providing advanced Patriots — despite Russian warnings that it would be provocative, as well as the U.S. government’s own previous hesitancy — should not be underestimated. And yet the practical effect of a single battery should not be overestimated, either. Troops need training to use them, and their most cost-effective application is against missiles and aircraft, not the Iranian-made drones on which Russia increasingly relies. Mr. Zelensky commented in a joint news conference with Mr. Biden that he would be back for more Patriots later on — and Mr. Biden indicated that, while committed to helping Ukraine defend itself, the United States would stop short of sending some weapons that might provoke a wider conflict with Russia.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/12/21/zelensky-visit-congress-ukraine-war-winning/
= new reply since forum marked as read
And this was the guy TFG tried to blackmail and tried to help Putin's quest to conquer those brave
Ukrainians. America and the world needs hear the tape of Trump trying to strong arm President
Zelenskyy. You know the phone call that McConnell blocked the senate and the American people
from hearing.
