Things couldn't be going better for Putin

The death of Aleksei Navalny, whether proven to be Kremlin-orchestrated or not, is just another piece of good news for President Putin who seems to be on a roll right now which is why he is smiling so much. The war in Ukraine is going better for Russia than at any time in the last year, with the Ukrainian troop withdrawal from the key Donbas city of Avdiivka. The city has been destroyed by continuous Russian bombardment, so there isn't much to withdraw from but it's still a big blow to Kyiv. Was the lack of ammunition, thanks to the impasse over Ukranian aid in US Congress, the reason for the loss of the city? It must have played a part. If the Congress blockage isn't solved soon, more cities will fall to the Russians. Biden has promised Zelensky that the $60 billion in aid due to Kyiv will be forthcoming in due course, but there are no signs of any anthusiasm among Republicans in the House of Representatives. So it could be a long time before any deal is reached, if it ever is. In the meantime, the Russians will take advantage and blast Ukraine's cities with a never-ending supply of shells and munitions. So, all in all, Putin is winning. Unlike Biden, he has no opposition to fear, and can do what he likes. It's a warning for the whole of Europe.