On Heeding Zelensky
Terry H. Schwadron
Dec. 22, 2022
The anomalies from the surprise appearance in Washington by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky were giant — almost as big as the respect that Zelensky deservedly draws.
Here was Zelensky, a true hero of democracy under fire, basically beseeching a split Congress of people who too often call on democracy only when it is politically convenient, to continue sending weapons and humanitarian aid to resist a continuing and increasingly brutal Russian invasion.
This is the same Congress with an incoming House Republican majority marked by politicians who warn against writing Ukraine “a blank check” for defense at a time when we could face slight recession. It is the same Republican majority lining up to condemn the outgoing House Jan. 6 Select Committee for recommending criminal charges against Donald Trump for trying to bring down his own democratic government.
A couple of hours earlier, the combat clad Zelensky had stood proudly and appreciatively at the side of Joe Biden, whom he praised repeatedly and warmly for sending weapons, now including a defensive Patriot missile battery but not long-range offensive missiles or fighter craft. One could not help but think back to Trump as president, using his powers to try to shake down this same Zelensky for political dirt on Biden before, finally, being politically trapped into sending tank defenses to the Ukrainian effort.
What struck most was the easy, evident comfort between Zelensky and Biden and the rock-solid commitments that Biden was offering an ally — without regard to changes coming for the congressional majority. Indeed, over objections of a bevy of House Republicans, the Congress stands ready to adopt a bipartisan spending bill that includes $45 billion in aid to Ukraine.
Zelensky undertook a potentially dangerous trip to rekindle U.S. support suffering from impatience while his country faces daily missile attacks on civilian targets, including power plants, schools, and hospitals. Zelensky took the trip to buck up U.S. caring about democracy, and to gain leverage from a U.S. decision on Patriot missiles to get the fuller coalition to supply more weapons. Peace talks are for later, when Russians have been pushed back and civilians are not being killed daily. He took the trip to challenge American resolve.
For Zelensky and Ukraine, the stirring address underscored that the war is real, and the losses are visceral. For Kevin McCarthy, the would-be Speaker, and too many Republicans, support for Ukraine is a political line.
Maybe the true value of Zelensky’s drop-in was to provide some needed perspective to our Congress.
##