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Blinken’s Kyiv speech contrasted quite a bit with what Ukrainians see in actual reality, which consists of a critical situation on the frontline as per Ukrainian officials, blackouts caused by brutal Russian missile attacks, press gangs kidnapping men in the streets, thousands crossing the border illegally to escape draft and also thousands jailed for things like “pro-Russian” posts on social networks or for being clerics in the wrong church (8K sentenced for “collaboration” as per the Guardian).
Meanwhile, Blinken spoke about Russia’s “strategic failure” and Ukraine’s “strategic success”. He painted a picture in which Ukraine succeeds in achieving a “just peace” (doesn’t mention 1991 borders though), joining NATO/EU and building a flourishing economy with a robust defence industry - for the money confiscated from Russia . None of that is on the cards at the moment as the devastated and depopulated country is struggling to prevent a collapse on the frontline.
He spoke about making Western support of Ukraine “sustainable”, not hanging by a thread every year due to domestic politics, knowing fully well that his administration might be out in six months and the new one will be more than skeptical about that aid.
Blinken praised the “difficult decision” on mobilisation, speaking to a student audience whose members are sure as hell weighing up the prospect of going to the frontline after graduation against that of swimming across the Tisza river.
He urged a proper fight against corruption so that American investors feel more comfortable but he completely omitted the American diplomacy’s favourite theme - human rights. Because that would open Pandora’s box. But he ended the speech with OUN’c “Glory to Ukraine” slogan - of course.
All of that happened in a university named after Igor Sikorsky, the inventor of helicopter, who remained a staunch Russian monarchist and a devote member of the Russian Orthodox Church till the end of his life. Tone-deafness galore in just about everything.
Anthony Blinken visiting Kiev