When Russian soldiers crossed into Sumy, a northern Ukrainian region, they expected to just roll through the streets for a smooth ride over to nearby Kyiv. Instead, the locals took up whatever arms they could get hold of, to drive out the invaders.

The U.S. Senate is poised to vote Thursday on whether to advance a slimmed-down Republican-crafted pandemic relief bill, opening what's likely to be the final stage of the months-long partisan battle over fiscal stimulus.