Take smart | Congress sends a message to Russia by approving a US aid package for Ukraine

This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.

Accepting the additional aid is a direct signal to the Russian Federation. It says that now more than ever, the United States is united in its support of Ukraine, and will provide the necessary assistance to keep Ukraine on the battlefield and in this conflict.

Russia has essentially wasted six months of US non-military aid to Ukraine and has not made any major military progress. They have captured some small Ukrainian towns and villages. But there is a problem with Russian energy. Exports have been depleted and the Black Sea fleet is effectively at the bottom of the Black Sea. This aid is crucial for Ukraine, but I don’t think we should demand immediate military results. Ukraine has struggled to hold its line, to defend its defense. I don’t think we should expect Ukraine to go on the offensive, as before. Ukraine will use this assistance to further its military protection for Ukraine, to have new artillery and Patriot missiles to defend Ukraine. So this will be an important part of Ukraine’s future military strategy.

Russia’s response is simply what Russia has been saying for months, namely that we are on the brink of a major military attack on the United States, and that there is a possibility that Russia will have to use nuclear weapons to defend Russian sovereignty. Lavrov, the Foreign Minister, has been saying this for months, but we will just have to wait and see what final measures Russia takes in response to the approval of this aid.