In Washington, after the midterm elections, questions about the strategy in Ukraine

Nine months after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Biden administration has reason to be complacent. Despite occasional differences in appreciation, cohesion with allies remains strong, as the US president and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, should stress Thursday 1^Verse December, at the White House. The Ukrainian resistance, full of sacrifices, made it possible to thwart all the plans of the Kremlin. Finally, Western arms shipments to Kyiv represent a very substantial and profitable investment, given the deterioration of the Russian army, due to the non-deployment of regular Allied forces.

Despite this tentative assessment, concerns began to emerge about the sustainability of the American strategy, while no credible opportunity for negotiations emerged as winter approached. These questions concern both the realistic goals Ukrainians can achieve—particularly the Crimean issue—and the resilience of Western support, in the face of growing weariness with public opinion. In a survey published Wall Street Journal In early November, the erosion of support for Ukraine became apparent. Nearly 30% of those surveyed felt the Biden administration was doing too much to help this country, up from 6% in March, in the weeks after the Russian invasion. This shift is particularly massive among Republicans (48%).

“The United States does not put pressure on Ukraine”, explained on November 10 Jake Sullivan, National Security Adviser, a few days after a new visit to Kyiv. The US Chief of Staff, General Mark Milley, nonetheless raised the possibility “diplomatic opening” If the fighting slows down in the coming months. But the official position has not changed: It is up to the victim – Ukraine – to determine the parameters of its response.. We have never recognized Russia’s so-called annexation of CrimeaJohn Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, confirmed this during an interview with the French press on November 29. It’s up to Mr. Zelensky [le président ukrainien] To determine how, when and under what conditions he will negotiate with Vladimir Putin. »

Moscow’s cancellation, on November 28, of a bilateral meeting scheduled for the following day in Cairo with an American delegation to discuss implementation of the New Start Arms Control Treaty is a clear sign of mutual mistrust. Moment. Call this postponement a “very unfortunate”, John Kirby explained that the White House “I still don’t quite understand.” The reasons that prompted Moscow. The US official stressed the importance of communication channels with Russia, at all levels, including the military.

You have 65.89% of this article left to read. The following is for subscribers only.