Zelensky is planning a visit to the White House
The Russian Counteroffensive in Ukraine: Why Do We Need More Weapons? — An Empirical Dialogue with Ben Hodges
Zelenskyy and many Ukrainians are quick to note that Moscow has dominated, or attempted to dominate, Ukraine for generations. Even if there is a long war, the goal of the Ukrainians is to drive out all the Russian troops estimated at 200,000 or more.
The focus is still on the Ukrainian offensive in the south and east. The Ukrainians have made some gains over the summer, advancing a few miles here and there and reclaiming a number of villages.
Should the US and other countries provide more powerful weaponry to the Ukraine in order to help facilitate a negotiated settlement or should they leave it up to them?
“When this offensive reaches its limits, which it will probably do in a few months, what do we do then?” asked a former diplomat and national security official who teaches at Georgetown University.
Kupchan has faced considerable pushback in the U.S. and Ukraine for raising the possibility of cease-fire or a permanent agreement. According to the polls, a large majority of the people in the country are ready to keep fighting for the sake of ousting the Russians.
Ben Hodges, a former general who commanded the U.S. Army in Europe, believes that Ukraine could make significant advances in the coming weeks before the fighting slows over the late fall and winter.
“Every time a Russian train is stopped or a truck is destroyed or a bridge is taken out, that makes it that much harder to resupply Russian troops and Russian artillery,” said Hodges, who now lives in Germany. “The Ukrainian counteroffensive is putting enormous pressure on the Russians.”
Mr. Zelensky’s planned visits come amid reports that the Biden administration may be nearing a decision on sending Ukraine long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems known as ATACMS, which Ukrainian officials say they need to make major advances against Russia. Ukrainian officials have said in recent weeks that they are hopeful that Mr. Biden will approve the weapons.
The Biden administration is working to shore up congressional support for an additional $24 billion for military and humanitarian aid for the war-torn nation amid a Ukrainian counteroffensive that has yielded disappointing results. Mr. Zelensky believes thatUkraine can still do well.
Most Members of Congress are in favor of this aid. The opposition is growing. Former president Donald Trump, as well as other Republican presidential candidates, are among the critics.
The U.S. is worried about what Ukrainian success will look like when it becomes an annihilating country — but what the Kremlin wants in Ukraine
The current level of support in the us should be maintained so that the Biden administration can better define what success in Ukraine will look like.
Would it be an outright Ukrainian military victory, or something lesser, like a negotiated settlement that might leave Russia in control of some parts of Ukraine?
“We run the risk of losing some of what is so far very strong, effective bipartisan support,” he said. “That’s exactly what the Kremlin is hoping for, is that the support will eventually fall away.”
He considers a war in eastern Europe to be more important than an invasion of Taiwan.
“There’s always a tradeoff. Colby said that it’s going to come, but you may not acknowledge it or know where it is. “My argument has been that Europe has really got to take a leading role there because of the urgency of the threat in the Pacific.”
European nations are giving substantial assistance to Ukraine, similar to the U.S., though politically the U.S. has set the tone for the Western response.
Russia and Ukraine aren’t interested in negotiations. Russia annexed four Ukrainian regions and claims them as permanent Russian territory. Ukraine does not plan on giving up any land.
Charles Kupchan acknowledges it will be hard enough to launch talks, and harder still to reach agreement. It is important to be prepared if and when there is an opportunity.
The Case for a Blank Check for Ukraine: A Brief Report on the Progress of the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv
The General Assembly of the UN in New York City is going to have an appearance by Mr. Zelensky in person on Wednesday. But his follow-on trip to Washington — where he is expected to meet with President Biden at the White House and members of Congress on Capitol Hill — has not yet been announced officially.
Mr. Zelensky is not expected to give a speech to Congress this time, but he will meet with congressional leaders and other people at the Capitol. Although most lawmakers still support aid for Ukraine, a growing chorus of right-wing Republicans, most of them in the House, has been trying to curtail assistance, and even threatening to block measures to fund the federal government if they include what they call a “blank check” for Ukraine.
Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who faces a rebellious far-right flank of his party that could cost him his job, has appeared to wobble under the pressure not to replenish the funds, despite previously saying that he backed continued aid for Ukraine. He is considering moving ahead with a supplemental funding bill that would focus on domestic matters, putting additional funding for Ukraine at risk.
The Biden administration has remained resolute. The Secretary of State promised that the United States would continue to support Ukraine when he was in Kyiv last week.
