Less than a year ago, the Ukrainian president traveled to the American capital, but the political landscape has changed significantly. The midterm elections gave Republicans a majority in the lower house. In January, Democrat Nancy Pelosi gave way to Republican Kevin McCarthy, conditioned from the start by the group of thirty extremists who group themselves under the name Freedom Caucus and who threaten to paralyze the federal government within two weeks. Among them, there is no shortage of those opposed to support for Ukraine, so for Volodymyr Zelensky, a second visit to Congress could be crucial to ensure support among the ranks of more moderate Republicans.
The Ukrainian leader’s trip to Washington will take place after meetings with other world leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Zelensky will be received by Joe Biden at the White House on Thursday, followed by meetings in the US Congress at a time when the president wants to approve a new aid package for Ukraine.
In December, the Ukrainian president returned to Kiev without getting what he asked for: war tanks, fighter planes and long-range missiles. Nine months later, the first Abrams tanks are on their way to Ukraine, the F-16s may be delivered by Denmark and the Netherlands within three to four months.
As for long-range missiles, Ukraine received the British Storm Shadow and the French SCALP, air-to-surface. But his commanders believe that ATACMS, fired from the ground by multiple rocket launcher artillery systems, could make the difference, so Zelensky should put pressure on Biden again. According to the Wall Street Journalthe US will be inclined to supply a limited quantity of these high-precision missiles.
From tango to barinia
Returning from the Far East, where he met North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, Vladimir Putin met his closest ally, Belarusian Alexander Lukashenko. At the end of the meeting, he denied the need for the armed forces to resort to general mobilization or to employ mercenaries, as 300,000 volunteers have been hired since the beginning of the year. “There is no need to invite outsiders to fight” against Ukraine, he said, denying reports the military is advertising in countries such as Kazakhstan.
When asked about US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s statement that “it takes two to tango”, referring to a hypothetical negotiation between Moscow and Kiev, Putin did not leave the dance to anyone else. “Tango is of course good, but I think it is important that Ukraine does not forget hopak, its traditional dance, otherwise it will end up dancing to other people’s music. And anyway, somehow everyone will have to to dance the barinia or, at best, like a Cossack,” Putin said, referring to the traditional Russian dance.
Source: DN
