Members of the Ukrainian enclave in west Lake County are confused over Republican indecision about support of a military package for their former homeland.
Join the club.
Elena, whose parents still live in Ukraine near the Polish border, is one of many who also are confused over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s eagerness to keep throwing young conscripts into the meat grinder the Russo-Ukraine War has become in its third year of conflict.
Recent news from Ukraine of strategic battlefield withdrawals also has dented her normal optimism about the defense of her former homeland.
“Ukraine needs weapons from America,” she argues. “They need help.”
She also laments: “When will we understand Putin? When will Russian people understand Putin?”
Good questions, although there’s no doubt U.S. weapons, especially long-range artillery and air-defense systems, are in dire need by the outgunned Ukrainians. As for Putin, we should see him for what he is — a dictator with no qualms about ruthlessness.
The former Russian spymaster has been playing the long game for some time, despite the astonishing loss of men and materiel in the vast warfront. NATO strategists estimate Russia has suffered between 300,000 to 400,000 casualties.
That’s cold comfort for Elena and her Lake Villa Township neighbors who support U.S. efforts backing Ukraine against Russia. Europeans, including the newest NATO members Finland and Sweden, understand what’s at stake by helping Ukraine.
Seeing what Putin is capable of — doing away with political dissidents, warning of nuclear strikes, placing nuclear weapons in space, and bewitching some U.S. Republicans — European nations are now rebuilding their own military forces. For years, the countries failed to fund NATO defense spending. They have seen the light emanating from their eastern borders.
Some of the strongest voices calling for unity with Ukraine are those nations who were forced to be allies of the Soviet Union during the Cold War. They are now NATO members, and their citizens enjoy the freedoms their citizens have had since the 1990s when the Soviet bloc disintegrated.
Unfortunately, House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana either doesn’t get it, or is dilly-dallying for political reasons. Perhaps this inaction is at the behest of a dictator-wannabe.
His slim GOP majority needs to perform the basic duty of not only funding the U.S. government as another federal shutdown nears in a few days. He and fellow GOPsters need to stand against Russian aggression.
Yet, House Republicans continue to stall a $95 billion military spending package, including $60 billion in weapons that would urgently aid Ukraine. Unless they want to turn the U.S. into an isolationist country and withdraw from global influence. Too late for that.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted the other day that 31,000 of his soldiers have been killed since Feb. 24, 2022, when Russia invaded the former Soviet Socialist Republic. On both sides, these are horrific casualty numbers, recalling the brutal warfare of World War I when wave upon wave of young men were sent to their deaths.
President Joe Biden and other NATO leaders have pledged to stand by embattled Ukraine as long as needed to defeat the Russian aggression. Despite recent claims by Russian propagandists of successes on the battlefield, there is no end in sight for the war.
Putin and his imperialistic cabal figured Ukraine was going to be a pushover, and had plans of installing a puppet government linked to Russia in place of its democracy. U.S. and NATO weaponry halted the Russian drive in early 2022, and helped feisty Ukraine in late 2022 reclaim some of its territory.
The uncertainty of the war, Republicans’ shirking of funding responsibility and long-term U.S. support and strategy for Ukraine to drive Russian forces back have some of our NATO allies spooked. Those of us who back Ukraine’s defense don’t blame them.
Despite sanctions, the Russians seem to have weathered financial and economic penalties imposed by Western democracies. Putin’s recent costly victories should wake up our political leaders.
The nation’s Republican lawmakers need a refresher course in how to govern, or they will be the minority party in Congress next year. They can take a hint from the eldest son of billionaire Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway, the “Oracle of Omaha” as the CEO is known to Wall Street investors.
Howard Buffett has given just over $520 million to Ukraine for humanitarian aid to those affected by the war. He sees what congressional Republicans apparently don’t, and plans to ante up more.
Elena, who was born in Ukraine when it was under Soviet rule, regularly sends care packages to her parents and their neighbors. Like Buffett, she plans to send more. So should Republicans.
Charles Selle is a former News-Sun reporter, political editor and editor.
sellenews@gmail.com
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