How about that weather?

BIDEN: “I sincerely hope this holiday season will drain the poison that has infected our politics and set us against one another” pic.twitter.com/EM0HmCh7oe

— Jordan Fabian (@Jordanfabian) December 22, 2022

"Both were grievously underestimated by Putin. Both have risen to the demands of standing up to Russia’s military in ways that have dramatic successes for Ukraine and humiliation for Russia. Both were, perhaps, also underestimated in their own countries when the war began." https://t.co/iyHD0dn8xJ

— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) December 22, 2022

David Rothkopf:

… American support will remain crucial to Ukraine’s ability to defeat Russia and reclaim the land Vladimir Putin is seeking to illegally seize. Zelenskyy’s task was to ensure that support remained unwavering and of the specific nature of which his nation most needs it—in terms of weapons systems, as well as economic and humanitarian aid.

His D.C. meetings began with a meeting with the man who has been his most important partner in this war, President Biden. The two leaders have been linked in ways that would have been impossible to predict just a year ago…

The two are now close partners who will be forever linked in the eyes of history. That is why, to some degree, the meetings at the White House were the easier part of Zelenskyy’s trip. Biden and his team have been unwavering in their support for Ukraine and the president again reiterated his commitment to that support.

He also promised Ukraine more aid, much needed military technologies— including a Patriot missile battery and JDAM precision-guided munition kits—and pledged the U.S. would support Ukraine for the duration its fight with the Russians. Zelenskyy and Biden both affirmed they viewed the ultimate goal to be the permanent assurance of the security and borders of a sovereign Ukraine. The two also demonstrated in their press conference following their meeting, a clearly genuine respect and affinity for one another…

The last audience—Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives—represents the toughest challenge of Zelenskyy’s visit. His appearance before Congress Wednesday night is, in large part, intended to forestall efforts by some on the right that want to cut back on aid to Ukraine.

Those outliers—the far-right fringe members who mouth Putin talking points while hoping for more influence in the next Congress—are seeing their relative influence over the Ukraine issue undercut this week by the fact that the current Congress is expected to approve approximately $45 billion in additional aid for Ukraine—an amount that should support the country’s needs for many months.

That this trip happened at all, and on the terms which the two leaders sought, makes it a success. Zelenskyy elevated his stature and won a reaffirmation of support from his most vital ally. He received a bipartisan commitment for new weapons systems and a massive new tranche of aid. He sent a message to those who might be inclined to cut back on aid to Ukraine in the future that they are in the clear minority. (Which is a good thing for the U.S., given that those Ukraine-skeptics on the right are actually giving aid and comfort to Russian enemies of the Western Alliance and the values it seeks to defend.)…

The only major losers from this trip were Vladimir Putin and the Russian hardliners whose careers and national interests have been permanently damaged by their catastrophic Ukraine blunder. They surely expected the resolve to support Ukraine would wane—but it is showing no sign of doing so yet. Oh, and there’s one other loser, of course. And that would be the former U.S. president who three years ago this week was impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives for trying to blackmail Zelenskyy.

How far we have come in those three years, from the impeachment of our ex-president to the well-deserved welcome Zelenskyy received from the current U.S. president and members of both Houses of Congress. Trump is sinking ever-deeper into disgrace. Zelenskyy is globally acknowledged as a genuine hero who has also recently won recognition, as Biden pointed out in what must be a particularly galling turn of events for Trump, Time magazine’s 2022 selection as Man of the Year.

Why should this be cringey?

It's true.

Is there something wrong with saying something positive?

Maybe we would all be happier if we said more positive and true things. https://t.co/9VQVxPqHNT

— Cheryl Rofer (@CherylRofer) December 23, 2022