Putin: Ukraine Can Only Survive A Week Without Foreign Support

Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club, has suggested that Ukraine cannot exist without external support from the West: "Ukraine's economy is not able to exist without foreign support," adding, "Ukraine can only live for a week once military help stops."

• Putin also criticised the proposition that Ukraine may join NATO, one of his primary justifications for invading Ukraine: "Russia has always been against Ukraine's joining NATO... that's a threat to our security," calling NATO a, "tool for US foreign policy."
• Putin's comments come as gridlock in the US Congress threaten the future of continued US security assistance to Ukraine.
• When asked if the disarray on Capitol Hill could impact Ukraine aid, US President Joe Biden told reporters yesterday: “It does worry me” and said he will deliver “a major speech” in the coming days advocating for Ukraine: “I'm going to make the argument that it's overwhelmingly in the interest of the United States of America that Ukraine succeed.”
• White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters this week: "Such a lapse in [Ukraine support] will make Putin believe that he can now wait us out and that he can continue the conflict until we and our allies and partners fold."