evidence: Of all the gifts that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled across the world to thank American lawmakers for in-person five days before Christmas, one stood out. It wasn’t the Patriot missile system that he was receiving to counter Russian attacks on civilians or the humanitarian aid for refugees, though he was grateful for both. It was the cold, hard cash. While much of the world’s attention has focused on military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, a large part of the help the U.S. is giving goes straight to Zelensky’s government as cash support for its operations. "Financial assistance is also critically important," Zelensky said in his speech to Congress Wednesday night. "Your money is not charity, it’s an investment in the global security and democracy that we handle in the most responsible way." [...] Democrats remain confident that ultimately the strategic value of what Zelensky called an "investment" will win out. "In the middle of a war like this it is not possible to keep track of every dollar," says Leahy’s aide, Tim Rieser. "What’s the alternative? Turn your back on Ukrainians risking and losing their lives to defend their country, or allow the Russians to seize control of Ukraine by force."