Article by AFU commander-in-chief fuelled discussions in US Congress on aid to Ukraine

An articleby the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Valerii Zaluzhnyi,saying that the war with Russia has reached a stalemate has provoked politicalturbulence in the US Congress and fueled a debate on whether to continuehelping Kyiv with weapons.

Politico reports that Republican members of the Senate haveargued that the Ukrainian general's findings are grounds for reconsidering U.S.support for Kyiv and continuing it for as long as necessary. The publicationsuggests that "this could elevate the role of aid to Ukraine versus Russiain the halls of Congress."

Opposingthe provision of financial aid to Kyiv, Republican Senator Josh Hawley isconvinced that Valerii Zaluzhnyi's outspokenness has "punched a big holein the US administration's policy towards Ukraine". According to thesenator, the White House's position is that in order to prevent a stalemate inthe war, apart from the military aspect, the US should support Ukraine in otherareas as well.

"Naturally,this begs the question: 'What exactly is our strategy regarding the finalgoal?' I don't think they (Biden administration - Ed.) have a plan,"Hawley noted.

DemocraticSenator Ben Cardin said that Valerii Zaluzhnyi's assessment "coincideswith what we've been told." According to him, Washington hoped that theAFU would achieve great successes and regain Russian-occupied territories withthe help of US weapons. However, Cardin noted, since the counteroffensive beganin the summer, Ukraine has advanced only 10 miles (16 km. — Ed.).

DemocraticSenator Richard Blumenthal said it was important to continue aid to Ukraine"even if there is no giant breakthrough" because it was important forUS national security.

"Thenature of the war in Ukraine is such that it will unfold mile by mile,"Blumenthal said.

At the sametime, Republican Senator James David Vance, who has previously openly calledfor an end to aid to Kyiv, said Zaluzhnyi's remarks show deep divisions in thecountry's military and political leadership.

"Zelensky'smilitary goals are not true, and some people in his inner circle arediscouraging him from the idea of further waging war. I have been saying for ayear that all this (war. — Ed.) will end in negotiations and Russia willcontrol the occupied part of Ukrainian territory. This was obvious to anyonewho paid attention to the realities on the ground," Vance said.

Politicoemphasised that Vance and Hawley's arguments remain a minority view in the Senate,as the majority of the Republican and Democratic parties continue to support USaid to Ukraine to break the current impasse. At the same time, the publicationnotes, the number of opponents of aid to Kyiv "is gaining ground,especially as the country's attention shifts to helping Israel in its waragainst Hamas."

Overall,the publication notes that Valerii Zaluzhnyi's messages have not weakenedsupport from Ukraine's active supporters in Congress.

Meanwhile,the publication says, Kyiv is trying to weaken its dependence on Western aidand plans to produce its own weapons in co-operation with US and Europeanconcerns.

"Britain'sBAE Systems and Germany's Rheinmetall AG have already signed partnershipagreements (with Ukraine. — Ed.), although weapons production has not yetbegun," Politico summarised.

The WhiteHouse will not leave Ukraine alone with the aggressor

Meanwhile,White House National Security Council Coordinator John Kirby stressed theimportance for the US to continue to provide defence assistance to Ukraine, asreported by Valerii Zaluzhnyi in an article for the Economist.

"We'reevolving, we've already evolved in what we provide to Ukraine, just as the waritself has evolved. And I suspect that process will continue," Kirby saidduring a White House briefing on 2 November.

Theofficial also added that Washington in this context "would find it mucheasier to do so" if Congress passed additional funding to support Ukraine,as stated in President Joe Biden's request.

Resonant article by Valerii Zaluzhnyi

TheEconomist on 1November published an article by Valerii Zaluzhnyi, commander-in-chief of theUkrainian Armed Forces, in which he noted that the war in Ukraine is movinginto a "positional" phase of static and exhausting combat. Accordingto the general, in the long term, such a phase of the war will benefit Russiaand allow it to restore its military power.

According to Zaluzhnyi,russia will have an advantage in weapons, equipment, missiles and ammunitionfor a long time to come. He named five key priorities for gaining an advantageand a successful offensive on the battlefield and added that the Armed Forcesneed the most modern types of Western equipment in sufficient quantities.