by Giuseppe Sarcina
The European Parliament demands weapons and combat aircraft for Kiev
The European Parliament, practically unanimously, the Anglo-Polish axis and, of course, Volodymyr Zelenskyy are increasing the pressure on the allies. They are demanding more weapons, in particular “fighter planes, helicopters, missile systems and more ammunition”, according to the resolution adopted yesterday by all the political forces represented in the Strasbourg Chamber with few deviations: 444 votes in favour, 26 against, 37 against abstentions. At the same time, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak received Polish President Andrzej Duda in London. The two leaders have announced that they will support Ukraine “until victory”.
But from the other side of the Atlantic comes the call for prudence and pragmatism. US Chief of Staff Mark Milley, in an interview with the Financial Times, reiterated the forecast made on Jan. 20 in Ramstein, Germany, about the conclusion of the summit of 54 countries supplying arms to Kiev. Here’s the gist: the Russians are unable to overpower the Ukrainians; but it is very unlikely that by 2023 Zelenskyy’s army will be able to retake the territory occupied by Putin’s army from February 24, 2022.
Milley’s new release was meant to be paired with the deliberations Antony Blinken would have with his collaborators, according to the Politico website. The foreign minister is concerned about the proclamations from Kiev. Zelensky also wants to retake Crimea, the strategic peninsula that Putin first occupied and then annexed to the Russian Federation in 2014 in a referendum that was never recognized by the international community. For Blinken, that would be a risky plan, bordering on gambling, because “Crimea is a red line for Putin.” The implication is always the same, repeated for 12 months now: if cornered, the Kremlin’s number one could resort to reduced-radius nuclear bombs, but with devastating effect.
A few hours later, Zelensky was very clear in an interview with the BBC. First: “The Russian offensive has already begun in several directions.” Second: «No negotiations with Putin; I don’t trust him”. Third, and this may be an indirect answer to Blinken: “We will not cede any territory in any peace agreement.”
The Ukrainian President remains at the center of the international scene these days as we approach February 24, the anniversary of Russian aggression. Last night he spoke at the opening of the Berlinale, the film festival in the German capital. According to the schedule, it was Sean Penn’s turn to introduce the connection. The American actor and director will present the film «Superpower», which was also shot in Ukraine.
However, next week the Kiev government will submit a request to the UN General Assembly. The text will take up the basic concepts of the “peace plan” developed by Zelenskyy himself last December. In particular, “the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the Russian armed forces” is demanded. It will be an opportunity to review on a global scale how isolated the Kremlin is. The latest sentencing motion, put to the vote on October 12, 2022, received 143 yes, 5 no, and 35 abstentions. In the past few weeks, the Americans have responded to Zelensky’s initiative with great perplexity. The fear was, and still is, that many of the 193 nations represented at the United Nations could slip, perhaps simply by abstaining to signal an increasingly widespread impatience with the aftermath of the war. In particular, attention was drawn to India, Brazil, South Africa, Indonesia, Vietnam and others.
Even NATO seems a bit scared. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg traveled to Ankara yesterday to work with the Turkish government to ratify Sweden’s and Finland’s accession to the Atlantic Alliance as soon as possible. But Turkish Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu bought more time and said the two candidatures could go down a different path. Faster than in Helsinki, bumpier than in Stockholm. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan mainly accuses Sweden of giving hospitality to “terrorist organizations”.
February 17, 2023 (change February 17, 2023 | 02:04)
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