Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was told by Republicans in Washington on Tuesday that Congress won’t be authorizing new aid for Ukraine until a deal with Democrats on border issues can be reached.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) met with Zelensky and told him that Republicans support Ukraine but wouldn’t send more aid until “a transformative change” in US border policy and laws.
Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said it would be impossible to pass a massive $111 billion spending package that includes military aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan before Congress’s Christmas break.
“(It) is practically impossible – even if we reach an agreement – to craft it, get it through the Senate, get to the House, before Christmas,” he said. “There won’t be a deal until Joe Biden and Republicans reach an agreement.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said he explained to Zelensky that the issue had nothing to do with Ukraine. Graham said he told the Ukrainian leader: “Here’s the problem, it’s got nothing to do with you.”
Even President Biden said he couldn’t make any promises to Zelensky. “We’re in negotiations to get funding we need. Not making promises, but hopeful we can get there — I think we can,” he said.
Zelensky spent his time in Washington pleading for more US aid and told senators on Tuesday that he is considering conscripting men over 40 to help resolve Ukraine’s manpower problem. Due to the heavy casualties Ukraine has suffered, the average age of a Ukrainian soldier is now 43, up from an average between 30 and 35 from the beginning of the war.
For propaganda purposes, neither the US nor Ukraine has shared the number of Ukrainian casualties incurred by the war since Russia’s February 2022 invasion. A US intelligence report released on Tuesday claimed Russia had suffered 315,000 casualties, including killed and wounded, but there’s no way to confirm the number.
The release of the intelligence report was a transparent attempt to push for more military aid for Ukraine while Zelensky was in Washington. Hawks in Congress have tried to sell continuing support for the war by boasting of how it is hurting Russia while costing no American lives, only Ukrainian ones.
But, will Congress cutting off aid cut off aid? This from CNN:
“Administration officials say without new approval from Congress for more aid, the US will be forced to tap its own stockpiles, potentially impairing American readiness. “
Some people were postulating that the Biden administration knows the jig is up, but wants to save face that it lost in Ukraine, so it is playing along with the GOP that the border issue is a monkey wrench in an otherwise winnable war. I don’t know.
I don’t think it’s a done deal. I can’t imagine Victoria Nuland is willing to give up that easily. Evil people like that will not stop until Satan calls them back to HELL. I think we’re awaiting another FALSE FLAG operation that WE will not SEE as a FALSE FLAG operation even with “FALSE FLAG” WRITTEN IN BIG LETTERS ALL OVER IT!!!!
And yes, Nuland is the epitome of evil.
She is baking those chocolate chip cookies as we speak. Now, if she can only get them to Z.
I think we’re more likely to have a ME related false flag operation because the world and US citizens are against the genocide of Palestinians. There are still blue Magas who support the war in Ukraine because of Russiagate propaganda for what, 7 years now?
Why not both? You think we are smart enough not to fall for it twice? …Existential Dread, you’re my buddy and I love you but please, Never Ever Underestimate How Stupid And Crazy We Are.
All the gaslighting certainly contributes.
Dude! Even the RED MAGAs “support the war in Ukraine because of Russiagate propaganda for what, 7 years now!” They specifically deny Trump was Putin’s puppet, but still support all the anti-Russia propaganda regardless of how stupidly obvious it is. Try it out on your neighbor. They’re not against war with Russia if a Republican wants one, I’m telling you.
One that will blame Iran. Israel will then get the green light to use a tactical nuke on Iran. That would be some king of distraction.
Consider a nation that is content to commit people in a client state to a proxy war meat grinder while at the same time supplying lethal means to kill women and children to another client state …
I like puzzles. Let me see… Was it Putin? …Wow! I WON!!!??? That’s fantastic! …A BLING gold plated hose fitting to enjoy my frequent brainwashing in style? Thank you!!! …I don’t know what to say!? …I think I’m worth it!
The Jeopardy Tournament of Champions is next for you!
Zelensky is not one to take no for an answer, he will be back for the Capitol and White House Christmas parties to collect later.
I have wondered how much he rakes in from sales of weapons on the black market.
He was selling oil and buying Russian, remember that?From Sy Hersh.Correction diesel
The Ukraine government, headed by Volodymyr Zelensky, has been using American taxpayers’ funds to pay dearly for the vitally needed diesel fuel that is keeping the Ukrainian army on the move in its war with Russia. It is unknown how much the Zelensky government is paying per gallon for the fuel, but the Pentagon was paying as much as $400 per gallon to transport gasoline from a port in Pakistan, via truck or parachute, into Afghanistan during the decades-long American war there.
What also is unknown is that Zelensky has been buying the fuel from Russia, the country with which it, and Washington, are at war, and the Ukrainian president and many in his entourage have been skimming untold millions from the American dollars earmarked for diesel fuel payments. One estimate by analysts from the Central Intelligence Agency put the embezzled funds at $400 million last year, at least; another expert compared the level of corruption in Kiev as approaching that of the Afghan war, “although there will be no professional audit reports emerging from the Ukraine.”
“Zelensky’s been buying discount diesel from the Russians,” one knowledgeable American intelligence official told me. “And who’s paying for the gas and oil? We are. Putin and his oligarchs are making millions” on it.
Senator Genocide: Here’s the deal. You mind to keep sending your people to their certain death until the last Ukrainian? …The money? …Don’t worry about the money, “it’s got nothing to do with you.” (Zelensky leaves) …Wow! I can’t believe that worked. I used to say, “the best money we’ve ever spent.” Now I say, “the best money we’ve ever (un)spent.” Let’s do the same to Taiwan.
Yo, Z, the GOP has just told you to pound sand.
That’s the most stupidest excuse ever. They certainly had no problem stumbling over each other to get a 14 billion package for Israel.
“Zelensky spent his time in Washington pleading for more US aid…told senators…he is considering conscripting men over 40.”
White House expresses satisfaction Zelensky grasps his ‘duties’ to replenish Ukraine manpower – proposes pegging military aid levels to conscription age to ‘incentivize’ greater Ukraine efforts.