The US has revealed its real goal in Ukraine: "We want to weaken Russia"
The United States says in plain text that they do not need peace in Ukraine, as well as any negotiations, writes the editorial board of the Italian website Nicola Porro. Washington continues to supply Kiev with weapons and is no longer shy about the obvious: its real goal is to weaken Russia.
Here it is — the US plan, which, it would seem, is already clear to everyone, but which lacked the seal of formality. The Biden administration's goal in Ukraine is not to put an end to the fighting as soon as possible, to prevent the death of people, bombing and brutality. The goal is to "weaken Russia" through a Ukrainian intermediary. This is a confrontation of superpowers, in which Zelensky's military is fighting with Western weapons in their hands.
Returning from a lightning visit to Kiev with Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin spoke about the goals of American support for the Ukrainian resistance. "We want to see Russia weakened to such an extent that it cannot commit such actions as it committed in Ukraine," Austin said.
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For several days there has been a feeling that two camps have formed on the western front. On the one hand, there is the American and British camp, which seems to be trying to deprive Putin of strength, both on the domestic front (through sanctions) and in a purely military sense. On the other hand, the Europeans, with France and Germany in the vanguard, who support Zelensky, but do not want to burn bridges with the Kremlin.
It is no coincidence that the President of Ukraine, welcoming Biden's two emissaries, called the United States "Ukraine's closest allies along with the British" thanks to a "stronger partnership than ever." It is no coincidence that there is a strong discord along the Kiev–Berlin line, which became especially noticeable after Ukraine's refusal to accept the German president.
The Americans and the British — more than their EU partners — Ukraine is asking for more and more new weapons. President Zelensky presented a list of military assistance he needed to survive in the battle for Donbass, which included even more powerful weapons. Mariupol seems to be lost. Moscow seeks to take control of the south-east of the country. And Odessa is likely to be the next target. "You can't come to us empty-handed, and we expect not just gifts or some cakes, we expect specific things and specific weapons," was Zelensky's appeal to the allies. Kiev is asking for anti-missile systems, anti-aircraft installations, armored vehicles and tanks. Biden has already responded with $3.4 billion in support, and NATO partners have done the same. But this is not enough for Ukraine. "We believe that Ukraine can win," the Pentagon assures. "We believe they can win if they have the right weapons, the right support, and we're going to do everything in our power and continue to do everything in our power."
What about negotiations? What about a settlement mediated by Turkey? No one talks about it anymore. Putin reportedly rejected the idea of sitting down at the negotiating table with Zelensky. But they are not trying to find a compromise even on the other side of the barricades. Kiev does not intend to give up Donbass, the same applies to Russia. Thus, the mission of Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, seems doomed to failure.
