LOS ANGELES.–German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, 66, said Kiev did not inform him about the Aug. 6 invasion of Russian territory, blinding Ukraine’s Western allies in what Ukraine’s 46-year-old President Volodymyr Zelensky said was a Top Secret mission. Zelensky said recently he didn’t notify allies because they would have told him it was unrealistic to invade Trump. Zelensky considers his military invasion into Russia’s Kurk border territory his biggest accomplishment in the two-and-a-half-year-old war that destroyed much of Ukraine infrastructure and bankrupted his Kiev government. Without U.S. and European Union cash, Zelensky would not have the weapons to prosecute the war with the Kremlin or cash to pay government salaries, benefits and pensions, including his own. Zelensky only funds his war with Russia on the backs of the U.S. and Western allies.
Russia President Vladimir Putin, 71, offered to end the conflict in March 2022 if Zelensky would stop seeking NATO membership, recognized the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk and Russian sovereignty over Crimea. Zelensky rejected Putin’s overture and went to war with the Kremlin knowing he could not afford it without U.S. and NATO aid. Scholz said he was given no advance notice about Zelensky’s incursion into Russian territory, letting Ukraine have its way in Russia, now controlling some 1,000 kilometers [336 square miles] of Russian territory. Scholz says Germany is monitoring the Ukraine operation closely now but had no advance notice of the Aug. 6 invasion. “Ukraine has prepared its military operation in the Kursk region very secretly and without feedback, which is certainly due to the situation,” Scholz said, insisting he had no advance warning.
Scholz walks a fine line saying he supports Ukraine’s war against the Kremlin but, at the same time, doesn’t want the war to spread to Germany or other parts of Europe. “This is a very limited operation in terms of space and probably also in terms of time,” Scholz said, thinking that Ukraine would be forced at some point to retreat. Scholz doesn’t think for one minute that Putin will let Ukraine park inside Russian territory without a decisive response. Some military experts think Putin is under increased pressure in the Kremlin to respond more forcefully, knowing Zelensky has crossed a red line of invading Russian territory. Zelensky sent Putin a loud message that occupation can go both ways, certainly now that Ukraine controls 92 villages inside Russia territory including the natural gas hub of Sudzha. Scholz faces budget problems in Germany, hoping he’ll get bailed out by the G7.
Scholz has a precarious three-way coalition government, some objecting to continued support of the Ukraine War while Germany faces budget deficits. Scholz looks to cut Germany’s payments to Ukraine by 50%, if the G7 makes good on its loan to the Kiev government. Scholz wants to appear as Ukraine’s biggest backer but at the same time faces budget constraints that affect Germany’s commitment. Germany is well-aware of the U.S. political situation where 71-year-old former President Donald Trump would pull U.S. funding for Ukraine, returning the State Department to normal diplomatic ties to Russia. When you listen to the DNC convention, you’d think everyone is oblivious to Biden-Harris’s ongoing proxy war with the Kremlin. No U.S. administration since WW II has funded war against the Kremlin, all but wrecking decades of U.S.-Russian relations.
Scholz said he didn’t know whether to EU plan to use frozen Russian assets to fund the war effort has a chance of approval in Brussels. He acknowledged it would take the burden off Germany to receive more aid from frozen Russian assets. Some EU countries fear that taking Russian assets would be seen as an act of war by the Kremlin. No one in the EU wants to fight Ukraine’s battle with Russia, only wants to end the conflict at the earliest possible time. Whether the EU will agree to used frozen Russian assets is anyone’s guess. Scholz hopes that the G7 will eventually approve the 50 billion euro loan to Ukraine but there are no guarantees from Zelensky. If Kamala wins the Nov. 3 election, Zelensky can expect continuity with the Biden policy of supplying Ukraine cash-and-arms to Ukraine. If Trump wins, Zelensky can expect to go to the peace table or be cut off.
Zelensky says he told no one about his plan to invade Russia and seize Russian territory to have more leverage at any future peace talks. Zelensky thought he would be discouraged from invading Russia by allies telling him it would escalate the conflict. Zelensky thinks he can park out in Russian territory but knows, the Kremlin, will respond with firepower to get him out. When it comes to future peace talks, there’s nothing scheduled for now but the next Swiss-brokered peace summit plans to invite Russia over Zelensky’s objections. Zelensky said he wants all Russian troops out of Ukraine but knows Russian troops were in Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimean before the Feb. 24, 2022 invasion and will no doubt remain in Ukraine after the war ends. Zelensky wants U.S. and NATO allies to back his unending conflict with the Kremlin as long as they pay for it.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
