“Betrayal” by the US is not a reason to panic. How the US election affects the war in Ukraine
10 April 2024 17:51
ЕКСКЛЮЗИВ
In recent weeks, there have been statements coming from overseas that do not contribute to optimism about the situation at the front and our prospects in the war against Russia. Elon Musk does not notice Russian influence on Twitter, Republican Congressman Scott Perry claims that the United States will not save Ukraine, and US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin has already stated outright that Ukraine should not strike Russian oil refineries. Komersant ukrainskyi 
asked political experts whether things are really that bad, or whether these statements are evidence of a normal political struggle in the context of the elections.
The lecturer at the Kyiv Mohyla Business School Valeriy Pekar believes that there is no reason to panic at the moment, and that Ukraine has become a hostage to political battles in the US, where no one is particularly interested in the fate of our country, Israel or Taiwan. Any statements should be viewed in terms of the US election process, the businessman says. However, the traditional fear of Russia is definitely present, he adds.
“The American establishment has a traditional fear of Russia. This fear is irrational and no arguments can help. They see Russia as a monster that will definitely start a nuclear war. Their statements that Ukraine should surrender are an attempt to solve some of their domestic political problems at our expense, with our blood. We should not pay attention to this, this turbulence will continue and will end no sooner than the US presidential election,”
– commented Pekar.
Moreover, according to head of the “Vezha” Public Analytics Center, head of the “New Road” Charitable Foundation Valeriy Klochok, Austin’s public statement that Ukraine should stop striking Russian refineries actually shows the consistency of the Biden administration.
“Austin’s statement is really unattractive. It does not add to the image of Democrats as supporters of Ukraine. The US policy on restrictions in the oil and gas market has been known for a long time, because the Democrats are very consistent in this area. In the bad sense, they are consistent because they have their own vision of restraining and regulating the balance in the global gas and oil market, which would result in no increase in fuel prices in the United States. This is a very sensitive topic there, and Biden has banned the issuance of new licences for natural gas exports from the US for a long time,”
– says the expert.
Instead, he suggests looking to the place where Ukrainians no longer expect help – the US Republican Party. There is support for Ukraine there, too, he argues, albeit quite specific.
“Let’s remember that Lindsey Graham came to Ukraine two weeks ago. This is a representative of Trump who spoke to the president and the government. We understand that the visit was not accidental – after that, they started talking about helping Ukraine, but in the form of a loan. Now, the former US representative under Trump, Kurt Volker, has entered the public arena. He said that Ukraine would be provided with assistance, but in the form of loans, not grants. He emphasises that today 80% of congressmen of both parties in the House of Representatives are ready to vote for this bill,”
– said Klochok.
The expert agrees with Valeriy Pekar that any support for Ukraine in the US can only be pragmatic.
“The Republicans are constantly advocating support, but in their own specific way. They want to make money on this, and make a lot of money, because Ukraine is the contract of the century, at least in the military sphere. Everyone understands this. So I would not rush to look for treason. Moreover, no one will tell the truth in a time of war,”
– Klochok is sure.
Meanwhile, Ukraine must continue the fight, regardless of the amount and form of support, because the enemy has not gone away.
“Military targets on the territory of the Russian Federation, as well as targets that form the basis of the economic capacity of the Russian Federation to wage war, are acceptable targets for the armed forces of a country that is a victim of aggression, according to the international law of war. We have to continue to fight for our independence and territorial integrity, understanding the weakness of our partners and their internal political battles,”
– said Valeriy Pekar.
