Mikhail Podolyak, advisor to the head of the presidential office, in an interview with the Russian Voice of America service, explained why Ukrainian President Zelensky did not speak to legislators by video conference in a closed-door briefing, and what will happen to Ukraine if The United States stops sending military aid to kyiv.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky arrives in Washington on Monday. According to our sources, Vladimir Zelensky is scheduled to meet with senators on Tuesday at the Capitol. After that, Zelensky will go to the White House, where he will meet with President Joe Biden for the fourth time since Zelensky was elected to office.
On December 21, 2022, almost a year ago, Zelensky returned from Washington to kyiv with a $1.85 billion aid package, which included Patriot systems for the first time at that time. What will he come back with now? And will lawmakers on Capitol Hill agree on the future of the fiscal year 2024 supplemental funding bill?
Last week, President Zelensky was scheduled to address lawmakers via video in a closed-door briefing. But the appeal was canceled on the day Republican senators blocked the White House’s request for $106 billion in emergency aid, including $61 billion to support Ukraine in its war with Russia. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov explained this on Fox News by saying that a war is being fought in the country whose course cannot be predicted.
Advisor to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Mikhail Podolyak, in an interview with Voice of America, said that this decision was due to the fact that the President of Ukraine “does not want to influence the discussion between Democrats and Republicans.” .”
“We understand the complexity of the process that is happening in the United States today. This is a very heated debate that, first of all, concerns issues of domestic politics and immigration policy in the United States. The President is very sensitive to the type of relations that have developed today between Ukraine and the United States. And he does not want to influence in any way this very key issue of the current discussion between Democrats and Republicans, he does not want to comment on all this in any way or suddenly find himself at the epicenter of these discussions,” he said. Mikhail Podolyak.
The advisor to the head of the OPU said that, in his opinion, there is some consensus that aggressor countries, such as the Russian Federation, should not win wars.
Podolyak summarized: “That is why President Zelensky tried to behave as correctly as possible in this situation: “Please continue the discussion. Decide for yourself what is important. Batch voting. Find a common area.
“Ukraine is interested in having its position supported.”
Now President Zelensky will personally go to Capitol Hill to convince lawmakers to approve the White House’s request to continue supporting Ukraine. Some House Republicans are demanding that the Biden administration present a clear U.S. strategy regarding Russia’s war in Ukraine.
According to our sources, the Biden administration is actively seeking a compromise with Congressional Republicans to ensure the release of funds before lawmakers leave for the Christmas break on December 14. They demand that the White House tighten immigration rules and border measures at the US-Mexico border. The administration is considering introducing stricter standards for initial interviews with American asylum seekers at the border and expanding the deportation process, Reuters sources said. In addition, Biden’s office, according to the agency’s journalists, is ready to consider the possibility of introducing a provision on a “safe third country.” According to him, they may deny asylum to those migrants who were in the territory of third countries that are safe for them before ending up in the United States.
Previously, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy interview with Defense News He stated that lawmakers are now “making a decision on whether kyiv will be a Ukrainian or Russian city.” He added that he was frustrated by the long-running debate among Republicans that directly affects aid to Ukraine, saying: “My level of frustration with the lack of seriousness on the part of Republicans is because of what is at stake. And what is at stake is whether Ukraine will exist in 12 months or become part of Russia.”
Mikhail Podolyak said that without US help it will be much more difficult for Ukraine, and the Ukrainian Armed Forces will fight the Russian army to the end.
“Of course, it will be very difficult for Ukraine. And, of course, Ukraine will continue to fight and defend its right to freedom. And, of course, we will not kneel before the Russian Federation. But the question is broader. The question is not even whether kyiv will amount to anything. kyiv will die, but it will never become a Russian city. It is about knowing whether today both the United States and the democratic field as such are willing to admit defeat in the confrontation with a country called the Russian Federation. Are we all willing to lose together against Russia? – asks Podoliak.
The advisor to the head of the OPU says that by investing in Ukraine’s combat effectiveness and victory, the West reduces the chances of other conflicts sponsored by the Russian Federation appearing on the planet. He sees a direct relationship in this.
