Over objections by the Trump Administration, the US House of Representatives is finally ready to vote the first week in June on Russian sanctions legislation to help Ukraine and punish Russia for its illegal aggression and ongoing war crimes against the people of Ukraine. Russia’s most recent brutal and barbaric attacks on innocent civilians and life-sustaining infrastructure should be all the House needs to approve this legislation by a strong, bipartisan, and even veto-proof vote. Readers may think this vote is a consequence of Russian war criminal Vladimir Putin’s most recent attacks across Ukraine, but it is simply a welcomed coincidence. The sad reality is that President Donald J. Trump opposes any legislation that will help Ukraine and strengthen the US negotiating position in any peace discussions at the expense of Russia. Thanks, however, to the leadership of Representative Gregory Meeks (D-NY), the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee – with the help of all his fellow House Democrats and a few principled Republicans – he is forcing the House to vote on his Ukraine Support Act.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. Congressman Meeks is using a procedural device known as a discharge petition, which allows a majority of the House – 218 members – to force a vote on legislation that either languishes in a committee without hearings or a vote – or is opposed by the committee chair or House leadership. In this highly charged political environment, Meeks’ action is the only recourse to force a vote on legislation that Trump opposes.