[Softball Fan]

This may have been posted previously.  Less than $2Billion of the $40Billion Ukraine bill is for military hardware.  Most of the money is for items other than winning the war on the battlefield.

On NATO expansion I wouldn't underestimate Putin's ability to intimidate Erdoğan one way or another to vote against adding Finland and Sweden.

I would. There is no way in hell Turkey is blocking Finland and Sweden if the U.S., UK, Germany, France want it to happen. Erdogan is just doing what people like him do. He's gonna ask for something in return for Turkey's support. He'll get something and Turkey will approve.

There are two separate issues: 1:) Concessions from the West, and 2:) Putin.

The West will make concessions to influence Erdogan’s vote.  That’s a given.

Putin has a small window to derail Finland from joining NATO.  The one realistic option is to do whatever he can to influence Erdogan.  Putin is not in a position to bargain about anything right now but he’s backed up against a wall and unpredictable.  I don’t think NATO will have as easy a time of swaying Erdogan as you portray. 

[Softball Fan]

This may have been posted previously.  Less than $2Billion of the $40Billion Ukraine bill is for military hardware.  Most of the money is for items other than winning the war on the battlefield.

On NATO expansion I wouldn't underestimate Putin's ability to intimidate Erdoğan one way or another to vote against adding Finland and Sweden.

I would. There is no way in hell Turkey is blocking Finland and Sweden if the U.S., UK, Germany, France want it to happen. Erdogan is just doing what people like him do. He's gonna ask for something in return for Turkey's support. He'll get something and Turkey will approve.

There are two separate issues: 1:) Concessions from the West, and 2:) Putin.

The West will make concessions to influence Erdogan’s vote.  That’s a given.

Putin has a small window to derail Finland from joining NATO.  The one realistic option is to do whatever he can to influence Erdogan.  Putin is not in a position to bargain about anything right now but he’s backed up against a wall and unpredictable.  I don’t think NATO will have as easy a time of swaying Erdogan as you portray.