Oleksiy Danilov, Ukraine’s secretary of National Security and Defense Council under President Volodymyr Zelensky, acknowledged that Kyiv was concerned that its Western backers are urging for peace allegedly out of fear of Russia.
Danilov spoke via video link to the yearly conference of the Halifax International Security Forum, a Washington, D.C.-based pressure group funded in part by the Canadian government.
“Ukraine is concerned by the fact that discussions among certain partners have intensified regarding the need for negotiations, consultations, meetings with the Russians to discuss the issues of the war in Ukraine, a ceasefire, etc.,” Danilov said, as per a transcript posted by his office.
He attributed such Western behavior to a “rudimentary fear” of Russia and stated that the West should imitate Ukraine’s example instead, as Moscow “only understands the language of force.”
Danilov stated that the Russia-Ukrainian conflict was “a struggle between democracy and tyranny,” with the West and Ukraine on one side and Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea on the other. If Russia wins, the world should expect a new “axis of evil” within 15-20 years that would include “some European countries” as well, he maintained. “Ukraine and the Ukrainian people will fight to the end. We are sure of our victory.”
Danilov portrayed Ukraine’s idea of victory as the “controlled decomposition of Russia into several parts” leading not just to “regime change” in Moscow but also its “de-sovereignization … denuclearization and demilitarization.”
Furthermore, he posited that Ukraine needs more Western funding and aid to restore its 1991 borders and become an economic powerhouse.
“Ukraine has every chance to become a strategic project of the West, which will demonstrate the full power of the vitality of democracy and the defense of universal values,” Danilov contended. “The West must confirm that it is and remains the First, and a victorious Ukraine will serve as a convincing narrative in the modern confrontation between slavery and freedom!”
Earlier on Monday, November 20, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visited Kyiv to provide moral support for Ukraine, but did not declare any new military assistance. Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told CNBC that Ukraine was “utterly dependent” on U.S. funding to keep paying the salaries of government workers, labeling the continued funding of Kyiv as a “critical priority” for U.S. national security.
However, Valeriy Chaly, Kiev’s former envoy to Washington, has said that Ukraine should prepare for a potential political crisis in the United States that could jeopardize further military assistance to the Eastern European country.
In an interview with Espresso TV Channel, Chaly, who served as Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States between 2015 and 2019, made his remarks regarding a recent visit by a Ukrainian delegation to Washington that tried to lobby the U.S. Congress for more financial support to Kyiv. The diplomat stated that Ukraine was in a tight situation in light of declining U.S. support for Ukraine.
“Out of the three scenarios that we’ve been talking about for a long time, our government has for some reason considered the most optimistic scenario, and what is happening now is actually the worst-case scenario,” he admitted to the Ukrainian broadcaster.
Chaly highlighted fears that Republicans, led by new House Speaker Mike Johnson, would delay providing aid to Kyiv. “We don’t know what will happen next. It is already clear that there will be a decrease,” he added.
Nonetheless, the envoy said he was certain that the West would not cease Ukraine aid in the near future. “I expect that this level of support will not decrease drastically until summer,” Chaly said, recalling that the International Monetary Fund has a financial plan for Kyiv at least until next July.
“But now we have to think about the fall of next year when the US will most likely enter a political crisis when it will be difficult for us to close the budget for the year,” the diplomat said.
Last month, Biden asked Congress to approve a $106 billion aid package that bundled Ukraine and Israel aid together. Nevertheless, many Republicans opposed the “blank check” policy on Ukraine and said they wanted to treat the two issues distinctly.
Last Friday, Biden signed a temporary spending bill to forestall a government shutdown that included no additional funding for Israel and Ukraine.
Since the start of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, the United States has provided more than $44 billion in military assistance, with the White House recently warning that available funds were running out amid a congressional impasse.
Russia has constantly warned the West against supplying Ukraine with arms, arguing that this would only prolong hostilities and make it a de facto participant in the conflict.
