Billions in aid and prospect of "peace talks": Zelenskyy's USA trip

It's reasonable to believe that the Ukrainian president is heading to Washington to finalize the broader plan to address the inter-party crisis.

However, it appears that this isn't the sole reason for the visit.

The Kremlin Führer released the "negotiating genie" from the bottle by traveling to Saudi Arabia and the Emirates to engage local politicians in supposed "peace talks" with Kyiv. Western intelligence has hinted at this development through various publications.

Officially, Moscow's propagandists assert that their leader visited Abu Dhabi and Riyadh to explore exotic military camels and discuss oil. The Russians face a significant conflict with the Saudis and the Emiratis, who are strategically influencing OPEC to limit hydrocarbon production, aiming to raise global prices. The Kremlin's approach to oil extraction appears foolhardy, irrespective of economic conditions or common sense. The current situation leaves uncertainty about whether the parties can find common ground on oil-related matters.

Simultaneously, Saudi Arabia and the UAE aspire to become influential international political hubs. Initially contemplating support for Palestinians in their conflict with Israel, they later conferred with the US State Department's Blinken, opting to save the Palestinians from Hamas. In essence, it was Washington, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh that averted a major war in the region, protecting Jerusalem.

Arabs also play a vital mediating role in Moscow's conflict with Ukraine, facilitating agreements on the exchange of prisoners of war. Notably, neither the Saudis nor the Emiratis are quick to condemn the Kremlin for war crimes, maintaining a sort of neutrality marked with a Kremlin star on the chest. Logically, Putin chose to negotiate with them regarding mediation in the talks, given their swift understanding with the USA on Israel—suggesting a potential understanding on Ukraine as well.

In the Russian Federation, there's a buzz of propaganda surrounding "peace talks." Putin's supporters are discussing it everywhere, even from household items like vacuum cleaners and refrigerators. Former "Yabloko" party leader Grigory Yavlinsky has emerged from obscurity, met with the Kremlin leader, and seems ready to become the Kremlin's representative in "peace negotiations" with Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Washington, Riyadh, and Abu Dhabi have apparently hashed out the framework for the negotiation process. The US is now keeping its promise of "nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine" by boldly announcing "peace talks" and their terms.

Washington's goal is to force Moscow to choose: either to sit down at the negotiating table or "to deal with a stronger Ukraine that is backed by a stronger industrial base in the United States and Europe" and is capable of going on the offensive, as stated by Jonathan Finer, who serves directly under Jake Sullivan as his Deputy National Security Advisor.

These details, one assumes, will be communicated directly to Zelenskyy personally.

No further comments. We await updates.

Source 

About the author: Orest Sokhar, journalist, chief editor of Obozrevatel

The editors do not always share the opinions expressed by the blog authors.