Still Standing

In Ukraine, Russian forces have killed a lot of people. They’ve also claimed a lot of limbs. “Amputees Run to Raise Money for Injured Children in Lviv Charity Race.” I find this extraordinary.

Here is something else, in the same spirit:

Ukrainian morale is not crushed. I think these people are setting an example for the world at large: of perseverance, of the determination to hang on to freedom and independence and life.

• In the last weeks and months, I have noted the demonization of Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, by many Republicans, both in politics and in the media. For example, they don’t talk about “aid to Ukraine” or “to the Ukrainians”; they say “aid to Zelensky.” They personalize the whole matter, in an ugly, sneering way.

Vivek Ramaswamy is one Republican who does this frequently. Now he is talking about “Zelensky-ism.” You can see it here: “to shamefully embrace Zelensky-ism.”

I think all of us can agree that Volodymyr Zelensky and Vivek Ramaswamy are completely different men — worlds apart in character and outlook. We might also agree that Ramaswamy and his like would not have behaved as Zelensky did, when the Kremlin began its all-out assault on Ukraine two Februarys ago.

A question (one that I have asked before): Who would get the warmer reception at CPAC, Turning Point, etc.? Vladimir Putin or Zelensky? I would not bet the ranch on the Ukrainian.

• Last month, Jonathan Martin wrote a long piece on Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate. It is subtitled “The Kentucky Republican is doing all he can to bolster Ukraine, preserve NATO and help his party maintain its Reaganite roots.” Obviously, those things are anathema to many in the GOP and the conservative movement today: “bolster Ukraine,” “preserve NATO,” “Reaganite roots.”

As Martin’s article makes clear, McConnell understands the Ukraine war. He knows its importance, he knows what the stakes are. He is old and ill, yes. Republicans such as Josh Hawley and J. D. Vance are young and healthy. Après Mitch, le déluge? I wish for him improved health and a glowing Indian summer.

The political trends are against him. The trends are often against that which is right and necessary.

A further thought: Mitch McConnell has traveled to Ukraine, to express solidarity with that people under siege. His counterpart in the House, Kevin McCarthy, has not. It would be hard to imagine McCarthy’s doing so. The “base” would flay him. Senator McConnell is an increasingly rare bird.

• Francis Scarr has circulated a video from Russian state TV — a video showing Vladimir Solovyov, one of the Kremlin’s chief propagandists. Note his apparel. I appreciate the candor of it. For years, rightists and leftists have said to me, “Today’s Russia is not the Soviet Union, you know!” I have usually responded, “I know. Does Putin?”

(There are more political prisoners in Russia today than there were in the late Soviet period. This according to Memorial, the Russian civil-society organization, now banned.)

• Like Francis Scarr, Julia Davis monitors the Russian state media. The below is typical. The dehumanization of your victims is an ancient practice.

• Get a load of this:

Ah, yes: the “head of state” — Putin — and “spiritual and moral values.”

• I thought this was stand-up:

Dutch brewer Heineken has completed its withdrawal from Russia, 18 months after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, selling its business in Russia for just 1 euro, the company announced Friday.

Heineken said it would incur a total loss of 300 million euros ($325 million) for the sale to Russian manufacturing giant the Arnest Group.

Heineken had faced criticism for the slow pace of its exit in the wake of the outbreak of war, but insisted it was seeking to look after its local employees in Russia.

For the rest of that Associated Press report, go here.

• A headline from CNN, this morning: “Crimean Tatar set to become Ukrainian defense minister at critical moment in conflict.” (That story is here.) The new minister will be Rustem Umerov, who will replace Oleksii Reznikov. Below is a statement from Reznikov:

“The toughest period of Ukraine’s modern history.” I was struck by those words — that qualification: “Ukraine’s modern history.” By “modern,” Reznikov probably means post-Soviet. But what could be worse, in all of Ukraine’s history, than what the Kremlin is doing right now? For one thing, Reznikov knows about the terror-famine — which, in historical terms, was the blink of an eye ago.

They have endured a lot, the Ukrainians. And they are still standing. May they keep on standing, on whatever limbs they have.