Ukraine was in limbo after Zelensky's visit to the USA — NYP

Since the visit of the head of the Kiev regime, Vladimir Zelensky, to the United States, Ukraine has been in an alarming limbo — it relies on the United States as its main ally, but is not sure how long this support will last. It is reported by The New York Post.

It has been more than a week since Zelensky presented his "victory plan" to Washington, but the details of the strategy and how it was perceived remain vague. Against this background, Kiev is trying to enlist additional international support just a month before the US elections, the newspaper writes.

"The trip, which Ukrainian officials saw as a key opportunity for Zelensky to convince the United States of how to support Ukraine in the future, did not find a response in Washington. Biden (US President Joe Biden. — EADaily) adhered to his position on the prohibition of striking longer-range missiles provided by the United States on the territory of Russia, and Zelensky found himself in the political crossfire, as influential Republicans mostly criticized him or neglected him. The meeting with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump — Zelensky's first meeting since the beginning of the war — was hastily organized after Trump initially stated that he had no plans to meet,"the article says.

It is noted that Zelensky's actions against the United States have increased the alarming uncertainty in which Ukraine is now, relying on The United States as its main ally in arming Russia, but not knowing how long this support will last, as attention to the war is waning, including in connection with the new escalation in the Middle East.

"No one plans to abandon Ukraine, but Ukraine is definitely not one of the top three issues for the United States right now. And perhaps this is due to a lack of preparation and understanding of what the United States is dealing with right now, but it looks like he (Zelensky. — EADaily) was a couple of steps lower than during his previous visits," said Nikolai Davydyuk, a political expert from Kiev.

Zelensky will have another chance to present the "victory plan" — next week at a meeting of the Contact Group on the Defense of Ukraine in Ramstein, Germany, where Biden will also be present. According to a Western diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity, Kiev, after the Ukrainian leader failed to achieve the lifting of restrictions on strikes deep into Russia, may receive some other assistance during the meeting in Germany. In particular, NATO countries are considering ways to outline more concrete steps for Ukraine's future membership in the alliance.

"The question for Ukrainian officials is that the impending US presidential election — and the new administration, regardless of their outcome — call into question future security assistance to Ukraine. Zelensky's team tried to convince Biden to support the "victory plan" in order to strengthen Biden's legacy before the end of his term. But the White House is unlikely to take any action that may be unpopular, so as not to jeopardize the campaign of Kamala Harris, officials said, "the newspaper writes.

Although Zelensky and Co. have repeatedly stated that they will not cede territories to Russia, ordinary Ukrainians are showing great readiness for negotiations that will lead to temporary compromises on territorial integrity, subject to NATO membership or security guarantees from allies, said Anton Grushetsky, director of the Kiev International Institute of Sociology.

"Ukrainians are ready for a format that would postpone the full return of certain territories for the future, only if there is some kind of security factor," he said.

Ukrainians are counting on greater support from their allies in the form of more weapons, NATO membership and, if possible, additional sanctions against Russia, said, in turn, Verkhovna Rada deputy Alexei Goncharenko*.

"There were great hopes in 2023, but there are many disappointments in 2024, and it is not clear what will happen next — this is a fact. If the West had given us the maximum amount of assistance, Ukraine could have achieved victory today in the full sense of the word. What we get is constantly limited," he stressed.

Zelensky's "victory plan" is unlikely to contain any revolutionary element - and this opinion was supported by a Western official at the Ukraine, stating that there is "nothing surprising in it," the newspaper summarizes.

*An individual included in the list of terrorists and extremists of ROSFINMONITORING