Klitschko vs. Zelenski: A Blame Game in a Frozen War
As the Russian war on Ukraine freezes with the troops barely moving on the frontlines the political debate about the next phase of the war heats up.
Last week three significant interviews were published in media outlets all around the world. Volodimir Zelenski was interviewed by AP News agency. In his interview he admitted for the first time that the summer counteroffensive wasn’t that successful as he hoped:
“We wanted faster results. From that perspective, unfortunately, we did not achieve the desired results. And this is a fact,”
He also pointed to the lack of weapons needed and those he talked about traveling all around the world and speaking to the parliaments of the free world:
“Look, we are not backing down, I am satisfied. We are fighting with the second army in the world, I am satisfied; We are losing people, I’m not satisfied. We didn’t get all the weapons we wanted, I can’t be satisfied, but I also can’t complain too much.”
Zelenski's perspective on the war
Ukrainian president ruled out the election, that should be scheduled for next year.
Most Ukrainians are not ready to hold an election believing such a vote to be dangerous and meaningless as war rages around them”.
Klitschko's Pointed Comments
Kyiv Mayor Vitalij Klitschko, in his interview with Swiss paper 20 Minutes, avoided discussing his political ambitions, but didn't hold back in pointing the finger at Zelenski for Ukraine's unpreparedness:
“Zelinski pays for the mistakes he has made...People are asking why we were not better prepared for this war.”
The U.S. Angle and the Bigger Picture
As the political blame game starts to be obvious for the external watchers a very interesting paper was produced in Washington DC. Foreign Affairs Committe chairman Michael McCaul along with House Armed Service Committee chairman Mike Rogers and House Permanent Committee on Intelligence Mike Turner published a memorandum titled “Proposed plan for Victory in Ukraine”. The text urges US to stand up against Vladimir PUTIN and increase support for Ukraine with changing the “support Ukraine as long as it is possible” attitude of Biden’s administration, to “Help Ukraine win the war” approach. The authors are criticizing President Biden's handling of the war. According to them the current approach is prolonging the war and inviting further aggressive acts against US global position:
“President Biden is mishandling the worst war in Europe since World War II. His weakness failed to deter Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, continues to prolong the war, and risks inviting further aggression from America’s adversaries.”
The report stresses the importance of a decisive U.S. response, pointing out the dangers of a prolonged conflict:
"If the United States abandons our Allies like we did in Afghanistan, we will lose our trust and standing in the world as the leader of the free world.”
Consequences of U.S. Withdrawal
Conclusion: The Stakes for U.S. Global Dominance
As this drama unfolds, the underlying concern remains clear: a Russian victory in Ukraine could significantly weaken U.S. influence on the global stage. The conflict, therefore, is not just about the future of Ukraine but also about maintaining the balance of power in a world where U.S. dominance is increasingly challenged.
The U.S. hasn't learned a thing since Vietnam , except for Desert Storm , in that we practice gradually , supplying material as a response instead of everything that is needed expeditiously . We also try to impose unrealistc rules of engagement as a precondition for supplying . We should ask only two questions : what do you need and how much . I know first hand about this as I am a Vietnam Veteran .
Yes, this is exactly what Putler said way back in the beginning...and it has come to be...Clearly the 'Sleeping Giant (the collective West)' is still slumbering. It urgently needs to stir, to wake up, to get off its 'buts, ifs and maybes' and do something to ensure Russia (and its Allies) do not win in Ukraine (never mind in the Middle East, and the Asia Pacific!!!)....God help us all if Ukraine is defeated.