The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has alleged that the Israel-Gaza conflict is diverting attention from the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He also claims that Russia’s intentions are becoming apparent. On Saturday, October 4th, during a visit to Kyiv, Zelensky conveyed these allegations to Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission.
Zelensky stated that it is clear that Russia is trying to divert attention from the conflict in Ukraine. Russia had sought to weaken Ukraine’s resolve. Russia is moving towards achieving that goal. The Southern Ukrainian offensive has made limited progress so far, and Russia has control over the skies. Therefore, Ukraine urgently needs American F-16 fighter jets and advanced air defense to change the situation.
Zelensky made these allegations at a time when President Joe Biden’s administration in the United States has requested Congress to allocate $10.5 billion for Ukraine and Israel. However, some Republican leaders oppose assistance to Ukraine and have proposed separating it from the package of aid to Israel.
The issue of assistance to Ukraine has become contentious among the Republicans who control the Representative Council. Some argue that the United States has already invested a considerable amount in the Ukrainian conflict effort, but progress has been minimal. They are more inclined to support Israel in its fight against Hamas in Gaza. In this situation, Oleksiy Danilov, the head of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, stated that if we maintain our joint cooperation intact, we will prevail. If you abandon us, it will be much harder for us.
Russia initiated the armed aggression in Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The Ukraine-Russia conflict has now entered its 620th day. Initially, the United States and Western countries provided military and financial aid to Ukraine, but over time, their support has waned. Many believe that the conflict in Ukraine has reached a stalemate. Some Western countries have even shown reluctance in providing arms and ammunition to Ukraine.
