Will America let Ukraine collapse?
Speaker Mike Johnson is forging ahead to pass a bill to support Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, despite threats from his right rump to topple him. He’s correct on the policy merits, and he deserves support from Members of both parties given what a potential Ukrainian defeat would mean for U.S. national security.
Mr. Johnson’s plan is to break the aid bill that has already passed the Senate into four parts—one each on Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, and one that packages various Republican policy priorities such as seizing Russian assets. Those that pass will be packaged and sent back to the Senate.
He hopes for votes on Saturday, which means Members can’t complain they weren’t given the promised 72-hour notice to read the bills. *** The need is urgent because Ukraine’s position is deteriorating. Ukrainian shortages in air defenses are letting the Russian military dominate the air for the first time in two years.
Ukraine’s cities are at risk, and its defenses could take down only seven of 11 Russian projectiles in a recent volley at a power plant. The other four destroyed the plant. Ukraine has lowered the conscription age to 25 from 27, and the manpower is sorely needed.
But even the Ukrainians, who have demonstrated that they don’t want to live under Vladimir Putin’s boot, will wonder about manning a front line if they lack the ammo to shoot back at the enemy. “Ukraine cannot hold the present lines now without the rapid resumption" of American help, as Fred Kagan noted in a Tuesday report at the Institute for the Study of War. Only the U.S.
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