In one of the most critical moments, where the geopolitical thermometer has. hit red, taking into account the new front in the Caspian, the blockade of Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea, and the barrage of fire between the USA and Iran in the Persian Gulf, London is putting yet another. dirty plan into effect.
Just before today's meeting between the presidents of the USA, Donald Trump, and Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, Britain is attempting to shape the facts before the decisions that will determine the next phase of the war in Ukraine.
In this context, Zelensky, before arriving in Washington, stopped in Great Britain, which, through promises to send new weapons systems and electronic warfare technology, wanted to send a clear political signal to the White House: that Britain and Ukraine constitute a close strategic axis.
This is a message of high geopolitical risk that comes shortly before the Trump, Zelensky meeting.
Facing these developments, Russia is following its plan and intensifying military pressure, constantly recording successes across the entire length of the front.
Zelensky's stance
Volodymyr Zelensky visited the United Kingdom on his way to the United States, where he was scheduled to meet Donald Trump on the sidelines of the funeral of American senator Lindsey Graham.
The visit to London did not have only a financial character, but constituted a carefully organized political and military demonstration aimed primarily at the American president.
The new prime minister of Britain, Burnham, welcomed Volodymyr Zelensky on an aircraft carrier located at the naval base in Portsmouth, in a move with strong symbolism.
Know-how for Stone Cloak
London pledged to transfer to Ukraine know-how for the production of the British electronic warfare system Stone Cloak, which is installed on unmanned aircraft and, according to its creators, reduces the likelihood of their detection by enemy radar.
This system has reportedly already been used on Ukrainian drones operating against targets in Russia in recent months.
Project Brakestop
At the same time, the British government plans to equip the Ukrainian armed forces with new missiles being developed under the state program Project Brakestop.
Their cost is less than half that of the Storm Shadow missiles.
These new missiles have been designed without American components and, according to their British manufacturers, can strike targets without relying on data from the American satellite navigation system GPS.
Their tests, as reported, are scheduled to take place on Ukrainian soil.
The message to Trump
The military cooperation between London and Kyiv aims to show Donald Trump that Britain and Ukraine already constitute a close strategic axis, which the United States is also invited to join with the common goal of confronting Russia.
Symbolic character is also attributed to the fact that Volodymyr Zelensky was the first foreign leader welcomed by the new prime minister, Burnham, as well as the last to have met his predecessor, Keir Starmer, before he left the premiership.
Political advice
During his stay in Britain, the Ukrainian president received political advice regarding the stance he should adopt toward Donald Trump: to avoid any confrontation, to appear conciliatory, and to accept American proposals, even if he subsequently does not implement them.
The British government and the so-called "coalition of the willing" seek to undermine any prospect of peace negotiations by putting forward terms considered unacceptable to Moscow.
Multinational military force
Cited as an example is Burnham's proposal for the deployment of a British-led multinational military force in Ukraine immediately after a peace agreement is reached.
Such a possibility would essentially amount to Ukraine joining the military structure of NATO, regardless of whether this would be officially enshrined.
This initiative recalls the intervention of former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who, according to Russia, had prevented the achievement of a peace agreement in 2022, encouraging the continuation of the war.
Russia: Open to negotiations
For its part, Russia continues to declare itself open to negotiations, while continuing to exert military pressure on the ground.
Cited as recent successes are the disruption of navigation to the ports of Odessa and Mykolaiv, attacks on fuel supply facilities between Kharkiv and Poltava, the destruction of logistics support centers, military industrial facilities, and airfields, as well as the capture of the settlements of Torske and Komunarivka.
It is estimated that if the same intensity of operations continues, living conditions in major Ukrainian cities will deteriorate significantly in the coming months.
Besides, Zelensky himself warned citizens that the country must prepare for a particularly difficult winter.
Why Zelensky is traveling to Washington
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, is in Washington, where he will meet with the President of the United States, Donald Trump.
Officially, his visit is connected to his participation in the funeral of American senator Lindsey Graham, however it is also expected to be utilized for talks concerning the war in Ukraine.
The possibility of the visit was initially revealed by Ukrainian parliament member Yaroslav Zhelezniak, while later the White House confirmed that the meeting of the two leaders will take place on 28 July.
According to ABC News, Volodymyr Zelensky maintained a close relationship with Lindsey Graham and wished from the beginning to attend his funeral, waiting, however, for the finalization of Donald Trump's schedule.
Airspace ceasefire proposal on the agenda
The news agency Reuters reported that during the meeting, a proposal for a ceasefire in airspace is expected to be discussed.
According to the report, American and Ukrainian officials have already worked out a relevant proposal, which is intended to be presented to the Russian side as part of a new diplomatic initiative to end the war.
Reuters also notes that in the past Ukraine had submitted similar proposals to Vladimir Putin, without result, while some estimate that increased pressure on the Russian economy through drone and missile attacks could affect Moscow's stance.
The Kremlin nevertheless treated the information with skepticism.
The spokesman for the Russian presidency, Dmitry Peskov, stated that Moscow has received no concrete proposal either for an airspace ceasefire or for new plans to resolve the conflict.
Estimates of Russian analysts
Political analyst Konstantin Blokhin, a researcher at the Center for Security Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, argued that the United States is gradually changing its stance toward the war.
As he stated, recent statements by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio show, in his view, a departure from the previous negotiating approach and from the so-called "spirit of Anchorage", a fact that, according to him, creates more unfavorable conditions for Russia.
Konstantin Blokhin estimates that Volodymyr Zelensky will seek to secure new political and financial support, as well as the continuation of military supplies, presenting the effectiveness of Ukrainian drone attacks as a primary argument.
At the same time, he notes that Donald Trump remains an unpredictable interlocutor and that any unexpected development could change the atmosphere of the meeting.
The significance of attendance at the funeral of Lindsey Graham
The head of the Center for Political Economy of the Institute of New Society, Vasily Koltashov, estimates that, beyond the meeting with Donald Trump, the presence of Volodymyr Zelensky at the funeral of Lindsey Graham also has communicative significance.
According to him, the Ukrainian president seeks to present the image that diplomatic efforts are continuing and that Russia is the one rejecting peace initiatives.
Vasily Koltashov also considers that Volodymyr Zelensky will attempt to strengthen the support of American public opinion and the political system, highlighting the need to continue financial and military assistance to Ukraine.
A similar assessment is expressed by Axios, according to which the visit gives the Ukrainian president the opportunity to maintain and strengthen the support he enjoyed in the American Congress through Lindsey Graham.
What Trump may ask for
Analysts point out that geopolitical conditions have changed noticeably compared to the previous period.
Vasily Koltashov argues that the United States now has limited room for influence, particularly after developments in the Middle East.
As he notes, Donald Trump faces a different reality before and after the war with Iran, a fact that limits the available means of pressure both toward Russia and toward Ukraine.
For his part, political analyst Alexander Asafov estimates that the American president will seek to project the image that he still controls developments surrounding the Ukrainian crisis.
According to him, Volodymyr Zelensky's agenda remains stable, financial assistance, military equipment, and greater involvement of allies, while Trump will try to maintain the impression that a peaceful solution is near, without however possessing, as he argues, a concrete plan.
The "duality" of American policy
Shortly before Volodymyr Zelensky's visit, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov spoke of a "dual stance" by the United States.
As he stated, on the one hand Washington continues to supply weapons to Ukraine, while on the other hand it appears willing to contribute to the negotiation process.
At the same time, he clarified that the Russian response to potential new proposals will depend on whether they correspond to the interests of Russia.
"Kyiv has already bypassed Trump"
Political scientist Vladimir Vasilyev, senior researcher at the Institute for US and Canadian Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, appears pessimistic about the prospects of the meeting from the Russian side.
In his assessment, Volodymyr Zelensky has already managed to shape Donald Trump's stance in his favor, with the result that Washington continues both verbal and military support for Kyiv.
He further argues that the United States continues to support Ukraine's hybrid war and considers that recent American positions are moving away from the so-called "spirit of Anchorage", seeking to pressure Moscow into concessions.
Finally, Vladimir Vasilyev attributes Donald Trump's stance also to domestic political calculations, estimating that maintaining support for Ukraine serves balances in the American political system ahead of upcoming electoral contests.
www.bankingnews.gr
Σχόλια αναγνωστών