Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Americans last week his country is fighting for “our freedom and yours as he made an impassioned plea for Congress to approve more assistance to fight Russia’s invasion. But prospects for additional U.S. aid to Ukraine are seriously delayed if not in grave doubt. The White House is warning that if new money isn’t provided by year’s end it will have swift consequences for Ukraine’s capacity to hold it’s territory, let alone take back land captured by Russia. “There is really no way Vladimir Putin is going to lose this,” Wisconsin Republican U.S. senator Ron Johnson said on AM 1170’s Between the Lines program. “He has nuclear weapons. Losing is existential for Vladimir Putin and so the only way this war ends is through negotiated settlements.” “So I think all the military efforts on the part of Ukranians, any support we give them, should be directed toward pushing Putin toward the negotiating table.” Johnson reiterated that any Ukraine aid package must include funding for border reform. “We have a clear and present danger with president Biden and the Democrats open border policy,” Johnson said. “That has to be addressed and the only leverage Republicans have to force this administration, to do them a favor politically, to get them to secure the border, is this Ukraine funding so we’re trying to use it.” As Zelenskyy wrapped up his two-day visit to Washington, it was unclear if he was able to shake up the political stalemate over aid.
