Why Putin needs Trump to win 

In Ukraine, the capricious fortunes of the war tilted in favor of Russia. While the aggressor seizes military leadership, the Trumpified Republican Party is questioning both America’s commitment to a free Ukraine and our will to confront the new Russian imperialism.

But for now, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) has managed to solve the problem. Over $60 billion What Ukraine desperately needs to protect itself from Russia’s summer attacks is long-overdue U.S. military aid.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently confirmed Moscow plans to seize Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city. Taking advantage of its advantages in manpower and missiles, its willingness to accept casualties, and Ukraine’s severe ammunition shortage, the Russian military recently Important if it is an expensive advance Bakhmut, Avdiivka, near the city of Donetsk.

I don’t like to praise you, but 2020 Election DenierIn a belated but patriotic move, Speaker Johnson brought the relief package to the House of Representatives, where it passed with support from Democrats.

Last weekend’s rare victory of strategic clarity over MAGA tribalism in the Republican-controlled House was certainly a setback for Moscow. But Russia’s ruler, President Vladimir Putin, still has the ability to force President Trump’s victory in November to remove the United States from the battlefield, thereby demoralizing its NATO allies and crushing Ukraine into submission in Chechen style. I hope so.

Conversely, if Trump loses, Putin also loses. As long as America and Europe continue to provide Kiev with arms, money and political support, the best outcome he could hope for would be a bloody stalemate.

In this test of will between President Putin and the West, neither the balance of national resources nor the asymmetry of sacrifice favors the Kremlin warlords.

NATO members are chipping away at their vast collective wealth and sacrificing their lives to resist Ukraine from being eaten up bit by bit by Russia.Meanwhile, in Moscow “Meat grinder” tactics It has already claimed the lives of 50,000 soldiers.

Putin rules by fear, but such devastating losses will not be sustainable unless Russian society recognizes the path to victory.

In reality, the introduction of new US weapons is more of a reprieve than a game-changer for Kiev. It would fill gaps in Ukraine’s defenses, but it would not be enough to eradicate Russian occupation.

But importantly, it keeps America in the fight. This will allow European partners to step up weapons production and deliveries and boost Ukraine’s morale. muster enough men of military age This is to offset Russia’s overwhelming military strength.

America’s opposition to Russia’s continued aggression should not be controversial. President Putin, angered by the collapse of the Soviet Union, invaded at least three neighboring countries. Chechnya, georgia and Ukraine, twice – Pursuing the dream of resurrection –Great Russia.”

If he succeeds in Ukraine, few doubt that Putin will turn his acquisition sights to Europe. Moldova, which is outside the European Union and NATO and has a significant Russian minority; I’m already feeling the heat.

Although the Baltic states are NATO members, they are also concerned about domestic incitement by Russian separatists.As my Progressive Policy Institute colleague Tamar Jacoby discovered during a recent visit to Poland, Poland spend a lot of money on defense To stop President Andrzej Duda’s recent call for “Insatiable Russian imperialism.”

President Putin has a deep historical grudge against the United States, which he sees as the main obstacle to his expansionist vision.he flooding our country with disinformation It was designed to stoke racial and political tensions, stoke fears of alien invasion across its borders, paint Ukraine as a hopelessly corrupt country, and amplify isolationist voices.

“Unfortunately, Russian propaganda has entered the United States and infected a significant portion of my party’s base.” lament Representative Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee;

The House vote revealed that the Republican Party is divided between President Trump’s “America First” camp and conservative internationalists in the mold of President Reagan. By siding with the latter, Mr Johnson drew the ire of Freedom Caucus bomb-throwers, who threatened to force a vote to oust him as speaker.

President Trump took a rare standstill in the fight, but just over half of the House Republicans (112 members) voted against aid to Ukraine.

Many argued that ensuring border security was a priority. But that opposition evaporated when Johnson, at President Trump’s behest, refused to consider a bipartisan Senate bill that included $20 billion for border security last February.

Other America First advocates join Trump in arguing that the United States has no vital interest in Ukraine’s independence and that Putin is entitled to a free hand in Moscow’s independence. “Scope of influence” And Washington insisted Europe should worry about Ukraine and focus instead on the Chinese threat.

Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) appears to be being groomed to succeed President Trump as the top prophet of MAGA populism. fight Ukraine is simply too weak to defend itself from Russia, even with US aid.

“This $60 billion is just a fraction of the amount needed to turn the tide in Ukraine’s favor. But this is not just a question of dollars. Fundamentally, Ukraine needs supplies to win the war. We lack the ability to manufacture weapons in such quantities.

Vance’s defeatism reminds us of U.S. Ambassador Joseph Kennedy I will dispatch The purpose was to convince President Roosevelt that Britain could not stand up to the power of Nazi Germany from wartime London.

Then there’s Trump’s grand promise to negotiate an early end to the war if he wins in November.His plans reportedly include: force Ukraine to cede From Crimea and most of eastern Ukraine to Russia.

In this way, appeasement marches alongside isolationism and defeatism under the banner of “America First.” When President Trump returns to the White House, you’ll likely hear corks popping not only at Mar-a-Lago but also in Moscow.

Will Marshall is the founder and president of the Progressive Policy Institute.