Timothy Birdnow

An arrogant and ungrateful Volodomor Zelensky has just flipped President Trump the bird in no uncertain terms, bombing Russian refineries and according to the article:

If Zelensky is done with the moratorium on bombing Russian diesel refineries then America will be done with giving him what he needs to continue fighting. This ungrateful little snot thinks he doesn't need our help, apparently.

Zelensky is hoping that his lack of cooperation will flip Congress next month and thus lead to a friendlier policy by the U.S. 

Notice he's gotten quite cocky after Congress passed an aid bill to Ukraine. He now thinks he can't be denied that money.

No doubt he can't as that is the way our government works; the Executive Branch cannot withhold money earmarked by Congress. But he can slow it down and possibly put some strings on it. And with a little luck he could get Congress to rescind it.

The Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 states the President must notify Congress if he intends to implement Impoundment - a practice where the President does NOT use authorized funds which goes back to Thomas Jefferson - and it must be approved by Congress. The President can either defer spending or do a recission (a perment cut) but he has to get tacit Congressional approval for a recission. In the current climate it seems unlikely Congress will allow President Trump to do it. But he can order a deferment. He should.

But then there is also the Line Item Veto Act of 1996, which authorizes the President to cut spending under certain circumstances and when it does not do harm to national interests or add to the federal budget deficit and it must have tax benefits. Under this provision it is possible the President could cut spending on Ukraine, but he'd have a big fight on his hands with Congress nonetheless. They can still override him in this instance.

Only one problem; SCOTUS declared this law unconstitutional. So Trump can't use that.

Zelensky knows all this and that's why he's getting cocky now; he has the the $175 billion and he won't need to come back to the well for a while.

If Ukraine were defunded the war would quickly be over. But Zelensky sleeps well at night knowing the Western World will never tire of propping up his corrupt and despotic junta.

President Trump needs to find a tender spot to squeeze the Ukrainian government. He probably will; it's what he is best at. His speciality is finding leverage to force a deal.

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