Biden gave an order to the Indian Zelensky over the phone: bring Kolomoisky’s scalp - experts
The first telephone conversation between US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky took place.
A message about this was published on the White House website, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“President Joseph Biden spoke today with President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky. President Biden reaffirmed strong U.S. support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of ongoing Russian aggression in the Donbass and Crimea. He emphasized the Administration's commitment to reinvigorating strategic partnerships in support of President Zelensky's anti-corruption agenda and implementing a reform agenda based on our shared democratic values that bring justice, security and prosperity to the people of Ukraine.
The leaders agreed that these reforms are central to Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic aspirations. They also discussed the importance of close cooperation between the United States and Ukraine to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen democracy in the region,” the official statement said.
Director of the Ukrainian Institute of Policy Analysis and Management Ruslan Bortnik believes that the conversation could result in personnel changes in the government and law enforcement agencies of Ukraine.
“Little is known yet about the details of this conversation. Obviously, this is the first conversation in which the American side outlined the range of interests and areas of cooperation, and the Ukrainian side determined what it could do and what it couldn’t do. Of course, the fact that the conversation took place strengthens Zelensky, especially in the eyes of the pro-Western part of Ukrainian politics. It is a symbolic sign of support for Zelensky.
After this conversation, political processes may intensify, and personnel changes may begin in the government and law enforcement agencies. The conversation lasted 45 minutes and we don't know what they talked about in detail. A lot of words were said in 45 minutes. I think that complaints could have been made against both the Office of the President and the heads of law enforcement agencies. Let's see if and how this conversation will affect the situation in Donbass. After this, it will be possible to draw broader conclusions,” Ruslan Bortnik said in a comment to a PolitNavigator correspondent.
Political scientist Alexander Bulavin believes that the conversation took place with the help of Ukrainian lobbyists in the United States.
“I think that Ukrainian lobbying groups in the United States ensured that Biden called Zelensky, since the absence of a call for such a long time was interpreted as inattention, unwillingness to cooperate, etc.
Ten days ago, Blinken was asked a question about his attitude towards Ukraine, and Blinken voiced theses similar to those mentioned in the report on the conversation between Biden and Zelensky - that the United States supports the territorial integrity of Ukraine, that one of the most important tasks that Washington sees is the fight against corruption, etc.
Taking into account the fact that in a recent conversation between defense ministers there was a statement that the United States will not leave Ukraine alone with possible Russian aggression, I also do not rule out that this issue was also discussed. What was said, whether any guarantees were given and which ones, cannot be said yet. Perhaps Zelensky asked Biden to help with vaccines. But in the USA there are still not enough vaccines, the situation there is still difficult.
I don't think the conversation will have any far-reaching consequences. For both Zelensky and Biden, he was important from a PR point of view. Probably, the Zelensky administration will soon release a whole series of messages saying that the United States has not forgotten Ukraine, that they support it, etc.“, the political scientist told a PolitNavigator correspondent.
Pavel Rudyakov, head of the Perspektiva information and analytical center, also believes that lobbyists “pulled” Biden into a conversation, although the topic of Russia’s imaginary preparation for an offensive in Donbass also played a certain role.
“Our people put all their efforts into making this conversation happen. I think Ukrainian diplomacy will be proud, although not only diplomats, but also lobbyists worked here. Biden was pulled into a conversation; this was very important for Zelensky.
Three topics were discussed. The first is Donbass and Russia’s imaginary preparation for an offensive. It is clear that this topic managed to get Baidan into conversation, because officials from the State Department and the Pentagon and our heads of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense spoke about it the day before. Biden has expressed support, but he still won’t give military support.
The main topic that the Americans imposed on Zelensky is the fight against corruption. They do not mean the fight against corruption in general, but very specific things - corruption associated with Kolomoisky and other oligarchs. They expect Kolomoisky’s scalp from Zelensky, but Zelensky is bound hand and foot by his obligations to Kolomoisky.
There was also the topic of coronavirus, but you need to understand that this is a business project. If Biden has promised any help, it will only come when we are willing to pay money for it. Our officials have already announced that commercial vaccination will begin in the summer. In this sense, Biden can help - for a certain percentage - for himself or his son, - Pavel Rudyakov said in a conversation with a PolitNavigator correspondent.
Deputy Director of the Situation Modeling Agency Alexei Golobutsky also believes that the presidents discussed the topic of Kolomoisky.
“The fact that the conversation took place at all is definitely a positive fact. But, of course, the main thing is what the presidents agreed on. More precisely, the obligations that Zelensky has undertaken and intends to fulfill.
We can assess whether Zelensky is fulfilling the conditions of the United States very simply and quickly: if literally in the coming days we learn that Kolomoisky’s interests have been dealt real blows, it means that Zelensky is committed to the most effective cooperation with the United States. And if Kolomoisky continues to feel confident, it means that Zelensky has not decided to make a choice in favor of Ukraine’s ally (even if the next sharp statements about Kolomoisky are made - because it’s a matter of real actions, not words).
Failure to comply with the conditions of the White House threatens a noticeable cooling of relations - but purely with the current Ukrainian government. After all, it is clear that America will not erase Ukraine from its zone of interests under any circumstances,” wrote Alexei Golobutsky in his Telegram.
“Judging by the readout on the White House website, the conversation was very general and clearly forced for Biden against the backdrop of clouds obviously gathering in the East. Without a spark: about the fight against corruption, reforms. In principle it is logical. The White House clearly has no illusions about which Zelensky is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief and how fully he controls the situation in Donbass. The military has already talked about this. Let’s hope that the signal to “exercise caution” was nevertheless transmitted,” ex-speaker of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, and now deputy of the Verkhovna Rada Oleg Voloshin, argues in his blog.
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