Russian President Vladimir Putin is playing mind games with us.
On Thursday afternoon, Putin blamed “Western elites” for giving Ukraine unwarranted support in their valiant eight-month resistance to his attempted takeover.
Our values of fighting for democracy are “pretty strange,” he said.
This is from an individual who has ordered the slaughter of tens of thousands of Ukrainians.
Then Putin goes off the deep end, saying his version of elitism does not include Christians, with whom he said he feels a special kinship. That’s downright creepy.
AS HE’S DONE on the eve of every major U.S. election in the last 10 years, Putin is skillfully working to divide the U.S. populace by making people feel less than and aggrieved.
Putin is sewing these seeds of discontent because he wants to stop the U.S. Congress’s critical support for Ukraine’s fight for independence and survival.
Unfortunately, he’s seeing some success.
On the recent aid package to Ukraine, 57 Republicans voted against it, including Jake LaTurner, our Congressional representative, who closely identifies with former President Trump’s isolationist policies.
Then this week Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the top House Republican, said there would be no “blank check” for Ukraine if Republicans take control of the House this election.
Former Vice President Mike Pence chided Republicans who questioned the value of supporting Ukraine and condemned their support for Putin, warning against “unprincipled populism.”
To date, the United States has sent Ukraine about $66 billion, including military, economic and humanitarian support.
The defense department’s annual budget is $800 billion.
It’s not what we lose by giving aid; but what we gain by supporting democracy and stability in Europe.
IN HIS 20 YEARS as president, Putin has become increasingly insular and desperate.
