Zelensky's Plea for Increased Ukraine Aid: Will Congress Respond?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is visiting Washington to seek more aid from the United States, including the U.S. Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), to support Ukraine's ongoing battle against Russian troops. While Ukraine's offensive has made some progress, it has not achieved the breakthrough it hoped for, and the war is expected to continue well into 2024. Russian President Vladimir Putin is betting that the U.S. and its European allies will tire of supporting Ukraine, and the prospect of Donald Trump returning to the White House further incentivizes Putin to keep fighting. Biden is asking Congress for an additional $24 billion in military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine, which has drawn opposition from pro-Trump Republicans but is likely to pass. The choice for the U.S. is between abandoning Ukraine and handing Putin a victory or supporting Ukraine until Putin agrees to negotiate a reasonable peace.