(CNN) The new $3 billion US package that will send fresh military hardware to Ukraine reinforces a remarkable commitment to President Volodymyr Zelensky’s opposition to Russia and comes as Washington warns of a potential Kremlin escalation as the war approaches six months.
But even as top Ukrainian officials welcome President Joe Biden’s move to allow Ukraine to acquire air defense and artillery systems, ammunition and radars, they are warning the world should not grow weary of a conflict that is, if anything, more brutal and bloody. There are strong political and economic reasons why they may be rightly concerned.
Biden, who unveiled the package on Wednesday, praised the country’s strength on a day that marks the independence to which Russian President Vladimir Putin says he is not entitled.
“Today and every day we stand with the Ukrainian people to proclaim that the darkness that drives autocracy is no match for the flame of freedom that lights the souls of free people everywhere,” the US president said in a statement on a war. that has taken place. sent shockwaves around the world and has major domestic implications in a difficult midterm election year for the White House.
“The United States, including proud Ukrainian-Americans, looks forward to continuing to celebrate Ukraine as a democratic, independent, sovereign and prosperous state for decades to come.”
Six months after the unprovoked invasion, the war in Ukraine is not over, despite being overtaken in US headlines by former President Donald Trump and inflation. The stakes have not changed; they are as important now as ever.
But as a conflict that has evolved multiple times reaches another potential turning point, a familiar question with new urgency is being raised — especially by Ukrainians: How long is the West willing to stay involved?
Money and military aid from the US and Europe remain critical to Ukraine’s ability to fend off the Russian invasion and to its hopes of reclaiming territory to the east and south, even as it launches its own attacks on the Russian front. annexed Crimea escalates.
But senior figures in the Kiev government are so concerned that they are warning again of the huge commitment to the democratic world as they face Putin’s forces half a year into the conflict.
“I call it fatigue syndrome, and for me it is one of the main threats,” Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said in an exclusive interview with CNN’s Sam Kiley. “We have to work with this threat because we have to… communicate, ask people, don’t be (in) on this fatigue. Because this is very, very dangerous for us.”
Questions about the longevity and intensity of Western involvement come at a perilous time. The State Department advised Americans on Tuesday to leave Ukraine immediately and warned of possible Russian attacks on Wednesday’s 31st anniversary of independence.
There are also slight fears that the capital’s return to a pale imitation of normalcy could be shattered by Russian strikes after the daughter of influential ultra-nationalist philosopher and Ukrainian war propagandist Alexander Dugin was killed in a car bomb in the suburbs. from Moscow. Ukraine has denied responsibility and the hasty Russian investigation offers little confidence in its claims that a Kiev special services agent was to blame. But the assassination has sparked chilling Russian demands for revenge and all-out war against Ukraine. In the past, Putin has used questionable events as excuses for brutal military action — for example, unleashing a terrifying attack on Chechnya in 1999 after apartment bombs that some foreign observers claimed were false flag operations.
Zelensky warns the world not to ‘get tired’ Ukraine
Zelensky warns the world not to get ‘tired’ of Ukraine
Reznikov is not the only top Ukrainian official concerned about dwindling foreign attention as his country desperately depends on Western weapons and ammunition to continue a battle that is taking a terrible toll. To see also : Brittney Griner has taken down the United States and now wants our help.
President Volodymyr Zelensky told CNN’s David McKenzie at a news conference in Kiev on Tuesday that he understood that all countries have their problems, at a time when Western populations are plagued by high living costs. But he added that Ukraine still needs more help. “Once the world gets tired of this problem, it will become a very big threat,” Zelensky warned.
Biden has an unequivocal short-term response to Zelensky’s concerns with his new $3 billion security package, adding to the advanced arsenal and ammunition Ukraine has already sent. This follows last week’s $775 million package that included HIMARS missile systems and 105mm Howitzer ammunition, anti-armor missiles and mine clearance capabilities, which reflected Ukraine’s desire to launch more offensives against Putin’s forces.
There is little doubt about Biden’s personal commitment to the cause. He has argued that the fight for Ukraine is central to US interests because ultimately it is the fight for democracy, which is under threat globally and domestically, and on which he has deployed his presidency. When asked if there would come a time when the US could no longer afford to offer Ukraine such generosity, John Kirby, the National Security Council’s coordinator for strategic communications, echoed a message Biden gave at a recent NATO meeting. -top had spoken.
“The United States will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes and he meant every word of it,” Kirby told CNN’s Jake Tapper, who promised aid packages from the US and “dozens” of other countries.
Biden’s War Management Is Some Heralded Foreign Policy Success
Biden’s war management is a little heralded foreign policy success
Still, the tension of recent days has drawn new attention to the Biden administration’s approach to Ukraine, which earlier in the year dominated US news shows and Washington politics for weeks after Putin’s invasion sparked a conflict-style conflict. World War II in Europe. This may interest you : FACT SHEET: US and G7 will take further action to support Ukraine and hold the Russian Federation accountable. and raised concerns about a possible US confrontation with an old Cold War foe.
This is more than just a war over Putin’s desire to revive the footprint of greater Russia and undo the geopolitical effects of the collapse of the Soviet Union. It has tested the will of the West to confront a Russian autocrat trying to rewrite the borders of Europe’s landmass. The US proxy campaign supports a sovereign people under attack by a more powerful neighbor that has suffered atrocities. Ultimately, it’s a big fight in a wider duel between tyranny and democracy, a geopolitical battle that also draws in the US superpower’s emerging confrontation with China — which Moscow has come in opposition to in opposition to Washington.
Individual hotbeds of war also threaten American interests. The current standoff over the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant threatens an environmental disaster that could harm the global economy and endanger large numbers of lives. US Deputy Ambassador to the UN Richard Mills warned Tuesday amid a frantic international diplomatic effort that Russia is “pushing us to the brink of nuclear disaster”.
Americans, like people everywhere, have also suffered from the punitive economic repercussions of the war. While some agricultural exports have resumed and the oil prices responsible for rising gasoline costs have fallen, the war retains the potential to inflict financial pain and political repercussions thousands of miles away from its killing fields.
There has been little domestic political payback for Biden’s approach to the war in Ukraine. But as the last Western leader to be politically active at a high level during the Cold War, he expertly united the West as a senator in its confrontation with the Kremlin. So far he has managed to arm Ukraine while avoiding a direct confrontation with Russia that could spark fears of an escalation that would go all the way to the brink of nuclear conflict.
A war of attrition looms
But there are reasons why Ukraine’s concerns about the West’s long-term commitment may be valid. For example, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has warned of a protracted war. Read also : The Guardian’s take on climate policy: Net zero must remain policy. “Winter is coming and it will be difficult,” he said at an online summit with Zelensky and other world leaders on Tuesday.
“What we’re seeing now is a war of attrition,” said Stoltenberg, who put forward the need for a long Western commitment.
The discouraging reality for the West is that this war may be just as existential as it was for Putin, who was unafraid of the dire cost in blood for Ukrainians and Russian troops alike. Previous hopes for a diplomatic solution were long gone, partly due to mistrust between the two parties. Ukraine’s ambassador to the UN, for example, said a Security Council meeting on the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant on Tuesday was a waste of time because Russia filled it with “fictional sound bites.” And while Western sanctions have pulverized Russia’s economy, there are no signs yet that it has led to Putin’s shaky political position or altered his own calculations.
The protracted confrontation between the West and Russia now ahead threatens to increase the costs that the alliance’s leaders – many of whom face treacherous political conditions and disaffected voters – will face if they continue to support Ukraine.
In the United States, for example, there is no guarantee that a Republican House of Representatives, which could emerge from the midterm elections in November, would be as enthusiastic as Biden in sending tens of billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine. Any majority of the GOP house could be captivated by radical, pro-Trump members, several of whom have already questioned America’s commitment to Ukraine.
Presidents have great discretion in foreign policy, and the government has not only relied on new congressional spending to help Ukraine, it has used various devices to tap into existing funds and the Pentagon’s arsenal. But Trump’s deference to Putin and the fact that it was a phone call to Zelensky that prompted his first impeachment could raise questions about how the former president’s influence in Congress could weigh on US policy. In the longer term, Ukraine could have great trepidation about the possibility of Trump returning to the White House after the 2024 election.
Of more immediate concern is the unity of Europe’s allies in what appears to be a miserable winter of high inflation, rising energy prices and political discontent. Putin has indicated several times in recent weeks that he is able to magnify the pain for Western publics that depend on Russian energy. Natural gas prices have risen again after several maintenance shutdowns of a major pipeline bringing Russian gas to Europe, which were seen as subtle signals from Moscow.
Germany activated a contingency plan in June that brought it closer to rationing natural gas due to supply disruptions. The Berlin government is often seen as a possible weak link in the Western alliance and particularly vulnerable to what officials in Washington see as Russian blackmail regarding energy supplies. The situation will only become more dire as temperatures drop and political pressure on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and other European leaders mounts.
Each time the transatlantic alliance’s commitment with Ukraine has been tested, it has remained steadfast so far. But it is based on a relatively fragile political base, which is why Zelensky and his ministers are sounding the alarm again about the stakes of the war.
How much money do you get for hosting a Ukrainian family?
Volunteers hosting Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion will receive £350 a month per family as a “thank you,” provided they don’t charge rent. But hosts have argued that this government money doesn’t go far enough as energy and food bills continue to rise.
How much will I get for taking in a Ukrainian refugee? “In recognition of their generosity, sponsors hosting refugees through the Homes for Ukraine scheme will receive £350 per month per address for up to 12 months if the guest stays in their accommodation.
Who can host a Ukrainian refugee?
If you know who you want to host, you should check if you can host them. You can only host them if they are one of the following: a Ukrainian citizen.
Can I offer a home to Ukrainian refugees?
If you want to offer a house to people fleeing Ukraine, you can become a sponsor under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Use this service to register your interest in becoming a sponsor.
How can I host Ukrainian refugees in France?
Welcoming refugees The official platform “I am committed to Ukraine”, launched on March 8, 2022 by the government, aims to guide French citizens who want to receive refugees and refugees in France. To do this, you need to fill out an online form that can be accessed in the “Register” section.
Who can take in a Ukrainian refugee? If you know who you want to host, you should check if you can host them. You can only host them if they are one of the following: a Ukrainian citizen.
Will France accept refugees from Ukraine?
On 4 March 2022, the Council of the European Union activated an emergency mechanism to provide temporary protection to displaced persons from Ukraine in EU Member States, granting them temporary right to stay and work.
Can you sponsor Ukrainian refugees?
The United States is one of the countries that welcomes Ukrainian refugees, and Americans can help by becoming refugee sponsors. Since the Uniting for Ukraine program started in April, the demand for sponsors has increased.
Can I host a Ukrainian family?
On the list of requirements, families must be financially viable, have a clean state and have enough space to accommodate refugees. “It is entirely possible for any US citizen or permanent resident or anyone here with legal immigration status to sponsor a Ukrainian refugee,” Bucin said.
Can I accommodate a family from Ukraine? It is also open to their immediate relatives and relatives of such Ukrainian nationals: a spouse, a registered partner, an unmarried partner (must have lived together in a relationship for two years), children under the age of 18, older if you are under -18, fiancé or proposed registered partner.
Can I offer a home to Ukrainian refugees?
If you want to offer a house to people fleeing Ukraine, you can become a sponsor under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Use this service to register your interest in becoming a sponsor.
Can I host a Ukrainian refugee family?
On the list of requirements, families must be financially viable, have a clean state and have enough space to accommodate refugees. “It is entirely possible for any US citizen or permanent resident or anyone here with legal immigration status to sponsor a Ukrainian refugee,” Bucin said.
