Breathe a sigh of relief after midterms: US aid to Ukraine continues Young Spaniard is detained in Iran

The date was not chosen by chance. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi spoke with CNN star reporter Christiane Amanpour on Wednesday. It was the day after the US midterm elections when a red, so Republican wave in Congress was expected. The interview was intended to limit the impending damage.

This is also supported by the fact that Selenskyj’s wife Olena took part in the conversation. There was cause for concern. Kevin McCarthy, the leader of the Republicans in the House of Representatives, also stated on CNN a few days before the election that there would be “no more blank checks” for Ukraine if his party controlled Congress in the future.

The shrill Trumpist Marjorie Taylor Greene went even further. Ukraine is not getting a “penny more” from the US, she said last week. JD Vance, who won the Ohio Senate election, said in February that he “didn’t really care about Ukraine.” They were disturbing tones, because the US is by far the most important donor.

Zelenskyy’s care

In the end, the damage was limited, but not thanks to the CNN interview, but thanks to the American electorate. Because the dreaded “red wave” has not happened. The majorities in both chambers of parliament are still unclear. And so far, aid to Ukraine has been decided by a vote of both sides.

“We are grateful for the impartial support,” President Zelenskyj said in an interview. She was a “very clear, strong signal”, not least to the address of the Russian invaders. At the same time, he expressed “very concerned” about the signals, especially from the Republican side. American aid has been important to Western unity.

“No doubt” of support

The confirmation was given by Stavros Lambrinidis, the EU ambassador to the United States, in an interview with the Washington Post, also held on Wednesday. He has “no doubt” that US aid to Ukraine will continue regardless of the composition of the new Congress. He learned that in conversations at the Capitol.

There is indeed a good chance that the US will continue to provide military and financial support. And that was not the only good news for Kiev. On Wednesday, the Russian army announced its withdrawal from the city of Kherson. It is probably the most difficult of many setbacks for the invaders to date.

ask for negotiations

Still, Selenskyj shouldn’t feel too safe. In recent days, there has been increasing speculation and even calls for negotiations between the warring parties in the US. One of the reasons for this was a trip to Kiev last week by Jake Sullivan, President Joe Biden’s national security adviser.

Apparently Chief of Staff Mark Milley, the top US military, is in favor of talks. The Ukrainians should “cement” their successes at the negotiating table, he is said to have said in internal discussions, according to the “New York Times”. There are “possibilities for a diplomatic solution,” Milley told CNBC on Thursday.

No pressure on Ukraine

However, the Biden administration wants nothing to do with such demands. “The US is not pressuring Ukraine,” Jake Sullivan told the White House that same day. In his post-midterm media conference, his boss confirmed that the decision rested with the Ukrainians: “We will not tell them what to do.”

Volodymyr Zelenskyj was skeptical in an interview with Christiane Amanpour: “Except for ultimatums, we have not heard anything from the current president of the Russian Federation.” He has not closed the door and is ready to talk to Russia, “but with a Russia that is really ready for peace”. And he hadn’t heard of that yet.

US supplies more weapons

Even after the withdrawal from Kherson, there is no end to the war in sight. The Pentagon announced an additional $400 million in military aid on Thursday. It includes anti-aircraft systems, winter equipment and ammunition for the Himars missile launchers, which have proved particularly effective in the fight against the Russians.

There is a risk that a new congress would reduce or block aid to Ukraine. And there are calls for negotiations, not only from the right, but also from the left wing of Democrats. However, the Congress will meet in its current format until the end of the year, leaving room for new aid packages.

Zelenskyi left no doubt at CNN that he is counting on military aid from the West. When asked by Christiane Amanpour how many weapons his country still needs, he replied: “There will be enough if we don’t hear any more explosions. There will be enough if the air defenses stop the missiles from hitting.”