Open Animosity

566

September 28, 2023

Published in Frankfurter Rundschau
(Germany) on 22 September 2023
by Karl Doemens (link to original link to original)

Translated from by Kirsty Low. Edited by Patricia Simoni.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy received a warm welcome. However, the Ukrainian president was met with disapproval from Republicans in Congress. Can Kyiv still fully count on the U.S.? A commentary.

For Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the latest trip to Washington must have been an extremely alarming experience: He was met with open animosity from Republicans. The U.S. public is now largely war weary. Donald Trump supporters do not care about Ukraine or are dubious about helping the country because they secretly sympathize with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin.

Far-right figures are openly calling for a stop to all aid for Ukraine and undermining the military budget. For now, Democrats still have a majority in the Senate, and, being in the White House, Joe Biden can attempt to circumvent the deadlock using all sorts of tricks. But that could change after the election next year. If Trump becomes president again, he will cut off Ukraine’s aid and happily negotiate a “peace deal” with Putin.

So, Kyiv is running out of time. Zelenskyy — who said “thank you” strikingly often in Washington and, unlike during his trip nine months ago, did not put forward any demands — knows that, too.

Offene Feindseligkeit

Der Empfang für Wolodymyr Selenskyj war herzlich – doch im US-Kongress schlug dem Präsidenten der Ukraine vonseiten der Republikaner Ablehnung entgegen. Kann Kiew noch voll auf die USA zählen? Der Kommentar.

Der jüngste Washington-Besuch dürfte für den ukrainischen Präsidenten Wolodymyr Selenskyj eine äußerst beunruhigende Erfahrung gewesen sein: Aus der republikanischen Partei schlug ihm offene Feindseligkeit entgegen. Die US-Öffentlichkeit ist inzwischen mehrheitlich kriegsmüde. Donald Trumps Gesinnungsgenossen ist die Ukraine gleichgültig oder gar suspekt, weil sie heimliche Sympathien für Kremlchef Wladimir Putin hegen.

Ganz offen fordern die Ultrarechten einen Stopp jeglicher Ukraine-Hilfen und sabotieren den Militärhaushalt. Noch haben die Demokraten im Senat die Mehrheit und Joe Biden im Weißen Haus kann versuchen, die Blockade mit allerlei Winkelzügen auszuhebeln. Doch nach der Wahl im nächsten Jahr könnte das anders sein. Ein Präsident Trump würde den Geldhahn für die Ukraine zudrehen und mit Putin freudig einen „Friedens-Deal“ aushandeln.

Die Zeit für Kiew wird also knapp. Das weiß auch Selenskyj, der in Washington auffällig oft „Danke“ sagte und anders als bei seinem Besuch vor neun Monaten keine Forderungen formulierte.

This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

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