Worst thoughts come to mind: Feygin on US delaying $60bn for Ukraine

He said this in an interview with Anton Borkovskyi, host of the Studio West program on Espeso TV.

"Starting in late winter 2023, the situation began to change, and the US administration began to behave more cautiously. It still pays lip service to Ukraine, but to tell the truth, this delay in the allocation of $60 billion for Ukraine and the disputes between Republicans and Democrats raise the worst thoughts. In contrast, Europe has somehow radicalised. Not only Macron, but also Scholz and some members of the German leadership, despite the Bundestag's decision to withhold and not provide Taurus missiles to Ukraine, have a very clear position and publicly articulate it. Instead, in America, as we can see, the presidential election campaign, which is already underway and will end in November 2024, has a strong influence," said Mark Feygin.

According to him, the US election campaign has a direct impact on the issues of support for Ukraine, military assistance, and the position of Western countries. Even the Biden administration, in contrast to the Republicans, is being much more cautious.

"There is information from Bloomberg that in Davos, Sullivan will convey the White House's position: we need to move to a defensive position for Ukraine, as we understand it, until November 2024, until it is determined who will be in the Oval Office for the next four years. This is a strange position for the simple reason that this is exactly what Moscow wants, to change its tactics and strategy in a positional and defensive way, to give it a break, to allow it to build up its forces, and then no Sullivan will stop it from taking offensive actions, not to mention the fact that there is no plan B. Ukraine will build defensive structures and minefields anyway, as it is necessary to protect the 80% of the territory that remains with Kyiv. But the question is different: what if Trump wins the election? A rhetorical question. Do Sullivan and the Biden administration offer any plan in case this happens?" the opposition politician noted.

In his opinion, if Trump comes to power, it may be better to supply Ukraine with money and weapons as soon as possible, so that it can fight normally for some time until Trump comes to power after his inauguration in January 2025, at least this year. Of course, with the support of European states, with funding, with the funds that European countries, including France with its SCALP and other countries, can provide, but funds are needed in any case.

"There are many questions here. We will hear answers to many of them when the Senate decides whether to take up the issue of allocating the ill-fated $60 billion. We will then understand whether the American establishment is ready, as it has been for the past two years, to support Ukraine in its defence of sovereignty in this war with Russia," Feygin concluded.

• US President Joe Biden held a confidential meeting with congressional leaders to explain Ukraine's urgent need for further assistance.
• The House of Representatives followed the US Senate in voting to approve a temporary budget. This will help avoid a shutdown. The next step is likely to be a vote on the national security package, which, among other things, includes new funding for Ukraine.
• On January 17, US President Joe Biden warned congressional representatives of possible threats to Ukraine, the US, and allies if they do not approve additional aid to Kyiv.