#Current affairs hot headlines #Ukraine counteroffensive operations have lost continuously, insufficient troops, serious corruption problems, and military discouragement, Zelensky is facing the most difficult moment since the outbreak of the war, it is at this time that Blinken suddenly visited Kiev.
(Blinken made a surprise visit to Kiev and met with Zelensky)
On September 6, local time, Blinken arrived in Kiev and will stay in Kiev for two days. This is the first time that Blinken has visited Kiev for the first time. Also this time last year, in September, Blinken made a secret visit to Kiev.
However, unlike last year, when the Russian-Ukrainian conflict had not broken out for long, the West was full of confidence in Ukraine, and Blinken also brought $2.8 billion in military aid to Ukraine; But now, the great counteroffensive in Ukraine has been going on for more than three months, and still no progress has been made, and the West has begun to lose confidence in Ukraine. So, what does Blinken want to do when he suddenly visits Kiev at such a time?
First of all, on the bright side, it is also widely disseminated by the Western media, that is, to cheer for Ukraine. According to the US State Department, Blinken will meet with Zelensky and other high-level Ukrainian officials to discuss the current counteroffensive and future reconstruction work. The U.S. State Department said the U.S. will continue to support Ukraine in the fields of energy, security and humanitarianism.
During this visit to Ukraine, Blinken did not come empty-handed, bringing Zelensky and other high-level officials what they wanted most. During his visit to Kiev, Blinken announced that the United States would provide Ukraine with $1.75 million to $200 million in new aid, with a further $1 billion in further aid packages for Ukraine.
(Blinken and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba)
When Zelensky and other high-ranking officials, because of the failure of the counteroffensive, feared that they would be immediately abandoned by the West, Blinken came with assistance. It can be seen that the United States does not intend to give up Ukraine at this juncture, and still wants Ukraine to continue to exert its strength on the battlefield and continue the war.
Combined with a series of recent actions made by the Ukrainian government, this is also what Ukraine has worked hard to achieve. Recently, Zelensky has changed the Ukrainian defense minister, carried out a bold anti-corruption, and asked Western countries to repatriate Ukrainian refugees, all of which are trying hard to prove to the West that Ukraine can still continue to fight and wants to continue to delay the performance of the war.
But this cheering is not necessarily a good thing. Obviously, Blinken's visit to Kiev is to give Ukraine another chance, but it may also be the last chance. If Ukraine can no longer get results, then the United States will completely abandon Ukraine.
Second, what the United States does not want to disclose to the outside world is for the corruption problem in Kiev. Relevant news shows that Blinken is trying to resolve the sharp contradiction between Zelensky's presidential team and the Ukrainian anti-corruption prosecutor's office, which has a US background.
This phrase "with an American background" is very spiritual, which shows that although Zelensky's recent anti-corruption efforts have intensified, the corruption situation within Ukraine is likely to be beyond Zelensky's control.
(Zelensky and other high-ranking Ukrainian officials)
Since the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the Ukrainian government has had corruption scandals from time to time, and earlier this year, CIA sources revealed that in 2022 alone, the Ukrainian government misappropriated about $400 million in US aid funds.
In order to carry out anti-corruption work, Zelensky fired a number of Ukrainian officials and even replaced former Ukrainian Defense Minister Reznikov. It's just that Zelensky's disposition of Reznikov was only expelled, and he did not arrest him, but was still thinking about replacing him with a new position. This shows that Reznikov is likely to be a backer, just for the corruption of the Ukrainian government and the unfavorable war situation.
Finally, Blinken may also be in order to discuss with Zelensky what to do next after the failure of the Ukrainian counteroffensive. At present, most people in the United States are tired of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, and this sentiment of the people has also spread to the US government. Next year, the United States will hold a general election, and from the end of this year, the US government will prepare for the election. If the Zelensky administration has not been able to produce results, and the Biden administration has been supporting Ukraine without a bottom line, it is likely to affect the popular support rate of the Democratic Party led by the Biden administration. In this case, the Biden administration may also be forced to make changes.
As we said above, Blinken's visit to Kiev is likely to give Kiev one last chance before the election, and if Ukraine really fails to achieve results, the United States may force Ukraine to cease fire and negotiate with Russia.
(Ukraine has been unable to come up with results)
A while ago, it was reported that the United States had begun negotiations with Ukraine, offering conditions for Ukraine to provide security guarantees in exchange for Ukraine agreeing to a ceasefire with Russia.
Therefore, before the US election, if Ukraine really can't get the results, then the Biden administration may take advantage of this time to force Ukraine to ceasefire, accept the conditions offered by the United States, and create a "good person's role" in front of the outside world to mediate Russia-Ukraine peace talks. Blinken has made it clear that he wants to be the "second Kissinger" because Kissinger mediated negotiations in the Vietnam War. If Blinken can also mediate a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, then Blinken can draw a heavy mark in the history of American diplomacy like Kissinger.
Of course, no matter what the real purpose of Blinken's surprise visit to Kiev is, it is foreseeable that the aid Blinken sent to Ukraine can only play a role in lengthening the front, and may also be exchanged for a more violent blow from Russia, which has little impact on the final direction of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.