The American Conservative (USA): we need to say "no" to Vladimir Zelensky
In his address to the US Congress on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky used all means of propaganda, writes The American Conservative. However, instead of saving human lives, his demands will only aggravate the situation, predicts the author of the article.
On Wednesday, March 16, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the US Congress, making a desperate appeal to provide assistance to Ukraine. However, instead of saving human lives, some of his demands will only aggravate the situation. Therefore, in response to Zelensky's demands, the US Congress should say "no".
I think it is quite natural that the leader of a country uses all the means at his disposal and makes all kinds of appeals to get the help that, from his point of view, his country needs. In his speech, he asked Congress to "remember the national memorial on Mount Rushmore." "The faces of your outstanding presidents who laid the foundations of the United States of America <...> Democracy, independence, freedom and care for everyone <...><...> Ladies and gentlemen, Americans, there are pages in your great history that will allow you to understand Ukrainians, to understand us now when we need you."
Of course, the Russians are actively engaged in spreading propaganda, but the West has already learned not to trust what comes from the Kremlin. However, the West has not yet learned to distrust the propaganda spread by the Ukrainian side - propaganda that Zelensky and the Ukrainian government are also using to the fullest. The "Ghost of Kiev", stories that the Russians are trying to damage the protection of the nuclear reactors of the Zaporozhye NPP and Chernobyl NPP, are examples of how Ukrainians are able to lie – or at least greatly exaggerate the facts - in the hope of provoking an emotional response from the West and forcing it to provide Ukraine with a new portion of assistance.
In his speech, Zelensky also mentioned Martin Luther King's famous "I have a dream" speech, but not to call for the restoration of peace and harmony, but to ask the United States to create a no-fly zone and increase military assistance. "I have a dream. I have a need. I need to protect our sky. I need your help, which means exactly the same thing you feel when you hear the words "I have a dream”""
"Is this a big request? Create a no-fly zone over Ukraine. Humanitarian no-fly zone. Is that too much of a request?" Zelensky said before he started quoting Martin Luther King.
I have already written a lot about why the creation of a no-fly zone over Ukraine is a completely unreasonable step that could very likely lead to a full-scale confrontation between NATO and Russia. Zelensky either thinks that the loss of a couple of NATO pilots will not entail the application of Article 5 of the NATO Charter, or he is already confident that a full-scale confrontation between NATO and Russia is the only way by which Ukraine can regain its lost territories. In both cases, the Ukrainian leader is most likely mistaken.
Zelensky continued: "If this [the creation of a no-fly zone] is too much and we have no right to ask for it, here's an alternative for you: you know what defensive systems we need. You know how much depends on the ability to use aircraft to protect our people, our freedom. Planes that can help Ukraine, help Europe. We know that they exist and that you have them. But they are not in the Ukrainian sky." The only problem is that there are none in American hangars either, if Zelensky hints that the United States should provide him with additional MiG-29s.
Earlier, Poland and the United States failed to agree on a deal under which Ukraine could receive part of the Polish MiG-29s, and the United States, in turn, would replace these MiG-29s with F-16s. If this deal came to life, it would most likely only increase the scale of the problem, since the Russian Defense Ministry has already warned that if certain countries provide Ukraine with fighter jets or access to their airfields, it will be regarded "as the participation of these countries in an armed conflict." Moreover, given Russia's air supremacy and the location of its anti-aircraft assets, providing additional MiG-29s to Ukraine is unlikely to provide it with any long-term advantage. And very soon Ukraine will start asking for a new batch of planes.
That is, Zelensky's alternative proposal is just as unrealizable as his first request.
At the end of his speech, Zelensky switched to English and addressed President Biden directly: "You are the leader of this country, your great country. I wish you to become the leader of the world. To be a leader of the world means to be a leader for peace."
I also hope that Biden is a leader who stands for peace. That is why neither the president nor the US Congress should give Zelensky what he asks for.
Bradley Devlin
