When Russia’s Vladimir Putin talks about his war in Ukraine, he generally maintains a ridiculous pretense about wanting peace talks. This week, however, the authoritarian leader didn’t bother. NBC News highlighted a striking quote from his latest interview with Russian state television, which was released this morning.
“For us to negotiate now just because they are running out of ammunition is somewhat ridiculous on our part,” Putin said, referring to severe ammunition shortages Ukraine has experienced as new U.S. military aid remains stalled in Congress and Kyiv’s European counterparts have struggled to supply the ammunition that has been promised.
In other words, Putin maintained the pretense about negotiations when Ukraine — the country Russia invaded without provocation — was in a position of greater military strength. But with congressional Republicans in the United States balking at renewed support for their ostensible allies in Kyiv, Putin no longer sees the point.
Why pursue talks, the argument goes, with an enemy that’s running out of ammunition?
All of which helped set the stage for a related question directed at Capitol Hill: Will congressional Republicans ever step up in support of Ukraine?
Yesterday afternoon, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who’s spent much of his career avoiding trying to steer events in the lower chamber, offered some fresh advice for House Speaker Mike Johnson. “I want to encourage the speaker to allow a vote so that the House can speak,” the Kentucky Republican said, referring to the bipartisan Senate bill that’s been pending for weeks.
By all appearances, Johnson will continue to ignore this advice, which means proponents of Ukraine aid will have to explore alternative strategies. It’s against this backdrop that Politico reported:
House Dems are launching a discharge petition, a legislative maneuver that can force a bill to the floor if a majority of lawmakers sign on. But the move faces long odds in…
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