On the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny

Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson (La.), have lost any claim to Christian or democratic values in their appeasement of former president Donald Trump and their own greed for power. A vote in favor of the Ukraine funding bill would show that some elected Americans still believe in supporting democracy around the world.

There is another strategy for Americans who want to send a message to Mr. Putin. It can be sent through Trump’s Republican Party. Let us all vote against Republicans running for any elected office. Without Republicans in Congress or on their way up the Trump Republican ladder, Mr. Putin would see that we respect democracy here and abroad. That would be a fitting tribute to Navalny and the thousands of Ukrainians who have sacrificed their lives. It would also honor the citizens of NATO countries who stand to lose their freedoms if Mr. Putin wins.

Maria Pedak-Kari, Gaithersburg

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) had a curious response to the likely murder of Putin opponent Alexei Navalny in a prison camp above the Arctic Circle. The vacationing congressman condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin but gave no indication he would bring Ukraine funding up for a vote.

Mr. Johnson single-handedly blocked desperately needed U.S. aid to Ukraine. The consequence of his action was apparent Saturday when Ukrainian forces had to withdraw from a key city because of a shortage of munitions.

Mr. Johnson is not capable of functioning as a leader.

At worst, his actions demonstrate a lack of understanding of Mr. Putin’s threat to world peace in a week when Russian ambitions to destroy vital U.S. communications systems based in space were revealed.

David Olien, Williamsburg, Va.

I greet with outrage and sorrow the news that democracy advocate Alexei Navalny died in a notorious Russian prison.

Navalny was but 47 years old and, as far as we know, healthy before the first attempt on his life in which he nearly died from poisoning, an act whose perpetrator is no mystery.

President Ronald Reagan accurately characterized what was then the Soviet Union as an “evil empire.” He and Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev united to diminish the threat that the two countries had long posed to each other.

Russia has backslid under the grip of its ruthless ruler, President Vladimir Putin, a tragedy for the civilized world. May this international outlaw someday be required to pay for what he has done to oppress his people and those of Ukraine in his quest to stamp out freedom and expand the Russian empire.

Oren Spiegler, Peters Township, Pa.

Former president Donald Trump has shown a special fondness for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mr. Trump says he will be a dictator on Day 1, and he’s running on a campaign of vengeance and retribution against his political enemies. Do the death of Alexei Navalny, Yevgeniy Prigozhin’s plane falling from the sky and the suspicious poisoning and murder of numerous other political opponents give us a glimpse of what Mr. Trump really has in mind?

David Pederson, Excelsior, Minn.