The US Secretary of State pledged the support of the Ukrainian delegation no matter what. At the same time, the EU is preparing to reduce American aid to Kyiv.
The Ukrainian delegation led by the head of the Presidential Office Andrey Yermak visited the United States this week. The trip took place against the backdrop of blocking aid to Kyiv in Congress and discussions about additional support to the European Union. If the government delegation agreed on something – read the analysis in the Western press.
The Voice of America notes that, despite the new focus on the Middle East, President Joe Biden is still ready to continue supporting Ukraine and allocate billions of dollars for it. This message from the American president was conveyed to the Ukrainian delegation by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. In addition, the parties discussed measures that could be taken to strengthen Ukraine’s infrastructure in the winter due to the expected attack by the Russians.
The Washington Post, in turn, notes that Ukraine is running out of time and money, and Congressional interest has waned and shifted toward the southern border and Israel. Journalists recall that both houses of Congress have already passed a bill to continue funding the government (which the president has already signed). However, this does not include funding for either Ukraine or Israel. This issue will be considered separately later, but in order to solve it, legislators have to overcome significant differences. Journalists believe that possible disturbances will have serious geopolitical consequences that will destabilize one of the main vectors of Biden’s foreign policy and give Putin what he wants.
At the same time, as the publication notes, members of the Ukrainian government are strengthening cooperation with American lawmakers, counting on their additional support. Andrei Ermak, in a speech at the Hudson Institute think tank, said that the success of Ukraine “is not only our strategic interest. It is also the interest of the United States.”
“Points of instability will continue to emerge around the world until Ukraine wins,” he warned, pointing to the conflict in the Middle East and tensions in the Balkans.
Ermak also answered a reporter’s question about what would happen if Congress did not approve the aid increase.
“I don’t believe that will happen,” he said, noting that he has had “many meetings in Congress.”
Journalists also recalled a delegation of Ukrainian religious leaders who visited the United States and asked for funding. The publication believes that such a message will appeal to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, a devout Baptist. Let’s remember that he expressed skepticism about further support for Ukraine, but said in an interview that the idea of financing the Armed Forces of Ukraine with frozen Russian assets is “extremely responsible” and popular with Republicans.
While in Washington, Ermak met with the national security advisers of the United States, France, Germany and Great Britain. That’s why Bloomberg cited the statement of German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who said that the European Union will not fulfill its promise to send Ukraine one million artillery shells by the end of March. In his opinion, the question should be asked: “is a million realistic?”
The European External Action Service has also informed EU diplomats that the bloc will not be able to provide that many rounds for March. At the same time, the EU commissioner responsible for the implementation of the ammunition plan, Thierre Breton, said that the target to produce one million shells per year is “achievable.”
The Pan-European news site Euractiv published an article that also looked at the situation with the aid of the European Union. Journalists again mentioned the issue of a million bullets, which is where discussions about EU military aid are opening. They emphasized that, according to people familiar with the matter, the European has now delivered 300 thousand shells out of a million.
That shortage, in turn, has raised concerns among some European officials and diplomats that it could complicate Kyiv’s ability to keep up with Russian production and its purchase of North Korean missiles. At the same time, the publication added that some member countries contacted the diplomatic service of the EU, because in their opinion “the target is not dead.”
Seasoned diplomats expect a tough battle at December’s EU summit to overhaul the budget for Kiev’s 50 billion euros in new aid, which is expected to be linked to Ukraine’s accession talks and internal which was requested by some of the members of the block. There is suspicion that Hungary and Slovakia may unite to advance their priorities.
“Washington’s support for Ukraine is likely to decrease, and the EU must have the political will to continue to provide aid despite this,” journalists added the words of Josep Borrell.
Olesya Krasnolutskaya and Victor Kovalchuk, specialists in international issues at the Sotsiopolis research company
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Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.