#ny-05

At least a small number of House Republicans are apparently growing cojones. Not only did the House pass a War Powers Resolution to end the Trump Iran war but it also voted in favor of aid to Ukraine and additional sanctions on Putin's Russia.

US lawmakers advanced legislation to provide more military aid to Ukraine and tighten sanctions on Russia, marking the first time since President Donald Trump's re-election that major such legislation advanced over White House resistance. The 218-204 vote by the Republican-controlled House of Representative cleared the way for a final vote on the Ukraine Support Act later on June 4. Though six Republicans joined Democratic lawmakers in the June 3 vote, it was unclear if it would get final approval. The measure advanced with support from Democrats and a small group of Republicans, highlighting divisions within Trump's party over US policy toward Ukraine and Russia. The Ukraine Support Act, introduced by Representative Gregory Meeks (Democrat-New York), would provide $8 billion in military financing loans to Ukraine, extend the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) through 2027, and impose additional sanctions on Russia.

I can imagine Putin calling Trump to express his disapproval while playing the famous pee tapes in the background. 😆

This bill still has a long way to go to become law. But it's significant that it passed in the first place.

The only way to bring the war to an end is to defeat Russia. Putin is still talking like he owns the lands he covets in Ukraine. What has changed in recent months is that Ukraine is using its homegrown technologically advanced drones to demolish Russia's oil infrastructure and hit military industrial facilities deep into Russia.

Even Marco Rubio thinks Russia is now going nowhere with its invasion.

Hours before the House vote, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a notably blunt assessment of Russia's military campaign during testimony before Congress, arguing Moscow has failed to achieve its original war aims and may never secure the objectives it currently seeks through negotiations. "I don't think there's any doubt at this point in the minds of most observers around the world, and I would say in the minds of some inside of Russia, that the invasion of Ukraine has been a strategic disaster for them," Rubio told lawmakers.

People like to be on the winning side and Ukraine is showing that it can go on the offensive against Russian aggressors. Just yesterday, Ukraine struck a naval base and an oil terminal in St. Petersburg – Putin's home town. Smoke rose high above the city as international delegates were arriving to participate in a major economic conference.

So assisting Ukraine is probably seen, at least by some House Republicans, as associating with an underdog winner rather than with loser Putin.

And it's not just sentimental reasons. When Middle Eastern countries were looking for new ways to defend against Iranian missiles and drones, they got technological assistance from Ukraine rather than Russia.