Russia - threadbanned users in OP

A stupid number or Republicans voting for the Moscow Marge amendment to zero out the bill. They didn't have the votes though.

It's a highly complex dynamic situation. To try and simplify it somewhat:

Russia has a massive powerful military. They invaded Ukraine, most analysts had Ukraine collapsing in a short time, the Russians themselves believed they would take the country in the short time. The Russians made big progress early on, reaching the capital. However, the Ukrainian leader didn't flee, the Ukrainian military did their job, they didn't collapse. With Western help, the Ukrainians not only started to hold the Russians, but pushed them back. A clever counter-offensive helped with that. The Russians reorganized an immense defensive line and clinging on to about 18% of the country and a crude stalemate is the current state of things.

The Russian military is using Iranian drones, relying on 40 yr old taxi drivers, prisoners, getting shells from N Korea - on the flipside they still have a decently powerful air-force (Ukraine has virtually none), they have (or had) a navy (Ukraine had none), have vast stocks of CW equipment, large production of munitions. Complex. And they have adapted.

TLDR the Russian military has been humiliated by a much smaller nation, they've made big mistakes, but they have adapted somewhat through the war and have been saved by quantity (of both munitions and meat-waves of men they can send in)

Handing out Ukraine flags in the house.

**** YES

If the military industrial complex is going to exist, it's not too much to ask for it to align with a good cause once in a while.

TikTok ban is not a sure thing. The members of the Senate have been very coy about that bill.

God thank you I was wondering who that kompromat sounding plant was.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Spartz

Spartz called the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine "a genocide of the Ukrainian people by a crazy man".[47] Spartz was one of the first US officials to call Russian actions "war crimes".[48][49] At the time of the invasion, Spartz had family still living in Ukraine, including her grandmother, who was living in Chernihiv, which was under siege by Russia.[50]

During the ongoing invasion, Spartz traveled to Ukraine twice in April 2022. The first time was an unannounced visit to Bucha with U.S. Senator Steve Daines. Spartz and Daines were the first two U.S officials to visit Ukraine since the war started. The second trip was to Lviv, Kyiv, and Odesa with Representative Tim Walberg.[51][52] During the trip, Spartz met with Metropolitan Epifaniy.[53] Spartz has been critical of the speed and effectiveness of international humanitarian aid efforts.[54]

In July 2022, Spartz criticized Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, accusing him of "playing politics and theater" and not governing seriously.[55] In an interview with Ukrainian press, she accused the country's leaders of not preparing for war and not understanding the war's importance. She asserted that there is insufficient monitoring of U.S.-provided weaponry, and that Congress needs to take control in this area.[56][57][58]

Also in July, Spartz enumerated six allegations against Andrii Yermak, a top official in Ukraine's government. Among the accusations were leaking important secret information to Belarus and Russia by Yermak, mismanaging peace negotiations he conducted with Dmitry Kozak just before the war, and then falsely "assuring Ukrainian leadership that no attack by Russia was going to happen" in February 2022, "contrary to western intelligence, to prevent Ukraine from properly preparing for the war", and through his deputy Oleh Tatarov delaying the appointment of an anti-corruption prosecutor.[59][60][61] Spartz asked the White House to investigate the allegations and report to a Congressional oversight committee.[62]

The Foreign Ministry of Ukraine responded that Spartz's allegations with regard to Andrii Yermak were "baseless speculation".[63] Former U.S. ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul, who has been working with Yermak on sanctions policy, said: "Yermak most certainly does not strike me as being pro-Russian. He is stridently anti-Putin and his barbaric regime."[64] Some Republican representatives and senators disagreed with Spartz's accusations and believed the accusations could hurt the war effort and damage U.S. relations with Ukraine, while boosting GOP elements who opposed aid to Ukraine.[64][65]

Brilliant news. About time. Give the lads what they need to finish the fight.

Good news but it is atrocious that we are so dependent on the Americans to bail out Ukraine. This should be happening in the European Parliament not Washington. Europe needs to use this time that Washington has bought us here to seriously up its arms capabilities. Forget the tankies and the “ peace” merchants and the various Trojan horses etc. Hard power is what protects the life we have here in western countries without it there would be chaos like the 1930’s and 40’s. Multi polar strongman chaos we all know where it leads. No thanks !!

Fantastic news had this not passed I think being honest Ukraine would have faced a very bleak future. The situation is still not great but hopefully this will begin to turn the tide.

LET'S GO BABY!

Some of the aid is already in Europe.