Mitch McConnell on standing up to Trump,GOP critics on Russia

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.)wanted to talk about Ukraine and the need to standup to Russian aggression before taking any questionsfrom The Hill during a Wednesday interview.

The veteran Senate GOP leader, a day removed fromwhat he saw as a significant victory in the Senate'spassage of aid to Ukraine and Israel, said showingresolve to deter foreign aggression is the "singlebiggest issue we've had in a long, long time."

The Senate bill, approved Tuesday in a 70-29 vote,faces an uncertain future in the House after SpeakerMike Johnson (R-La.) issued a scathing statement hours before its passage.

And McConnell himself faces real questions about hisfuture as the GOP increasingly takes on the AmericanFirst isolationism espoused by former PresidentTrump, the front-runner for the Republican nomination.

Yet on Wednesday, McConnell, who will turn 82 nextweek, signaled confidence about his future, the foreignpolicy he's backed and his political leadership in a divided GOP.