As he portrayed it to the United States Congress, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pitched the one-year war taking place in his country as that of Russia and Iran challenging the “free world” - the United States and its allies, in a battle for world supremacy.
“The world is too interconnected and too interdependent to stay aside and at the same time feel safe when such battles continue,” the Ukrainian President told the US Congress to prolonged applause.
“Our two nations are allies in this battle and next year will be the turning point,” added the Ukrainian president.
His other clear objective was to underline the absolute need for the continued shipment of military hardware to his country from the US and Europe.
Even before his statement to the Congress, the Ukrainian president got the assurance from his US counterpart, President Joe Biden, that the Americans “will remain in the war for as long as it takes.”
In addition to the tens of billions already sent to the battle front in military equipment and other forms of assistance by the US and Europe, the visit of President Zelenskyy, his first outside of his country since the war began in January, was timed to coincide with the attempt by the Democratic-led House to push through a US$1.7 trillion spending bill out of which Ukraine is to receive US$45 billion.
If the overwhelming demonstration of support by the Congress is any indication of continuing funding for Ukraine, the US$45 billion seems assured.
On the basis of President Zelenskyy’s characterisation of the war in eastern Europe and the positive response he received from the US Congress, the war will be prolonged and so too its consequences.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has made clear his intention to “take back” Ukraine, which he considers to be part of Russia. President Putin has charged the West for seeking to dominate the world, Russia included, and he has no intention of allowing that to happen.
Already, the previously independent Finland and Sweden have made applications to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) to receive the defence shield from the West. President Putin has, however, made it clear he will not allow NATO to expand to countries with Russian borders.
If previously there was merely the potential for the battle between Ukraine and Russia to be prolonged and continue its negative impact on the world economy, the ground was set during President Zelenskyy's visit and President Biden’s warm embrace, for another East-West conflict. Both leaders have said at one level there is no need for nuclear weapons in the battle; but have both charged each other for encouraging such a possibility.
“A Nuclear Armageddon is at its highest risk since the Cuban Missile Crisis,” said President Biden.
President Putin sees a “growing nuclear threat,” but said “Russia will only use nukes in a retaliatory strike.”
Creative and risk-balancing diplomacy must, however, now save the world from total ruin.
