A few days ago, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated without hesitation that if his war-torn country did not receive the new package of American aid, his army would have been crushed. The Ukrainian president said, however, much more, “squinting” at Tel Aviv.
Speaking on the PBS NewsHour on April 16, Zelensky first admitted that his forces under the current conditions would be defeated any day.
But then when the reporter asked what the $61 billion approved by the House of Representatives would do to change the dynamics of the war, Zelensky only replied, “It’s a lot to sustain ourselves. It’s very difficult for us.”
After more than two years of war, Kiev itself admits that even with help it cannot defeat the Russians. Many countries, including Greece, are throwing money and weapons into a black hole while their military leaders know that Ukraine has no hope.
However, Zelensky also wants weapons immediately because, as he stated, he has a plan for how he will use the superweapons he is requesting.
But the most important thing – which also makes the difference to the Ukrainian demands so far – is that Zelensky is jealous of Israel.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg meet at the Warsaw Armored Brigade Base in Warsaw, Poland, April 23, 2024. (REUTERS).
Commenting on the April 14 Iranian attack, he said that Israel did not defend itself, it had the protection of allies. If it were not for this protection, today we would have bloodshed and many more deaths.
“When someone says that our Allies cannot supply us with weapons, because that would mean that NATO is involved in the war, after the attack on Israel I want to ask: Is Israel a member of NATO or not” asked the Ukrainian leader.
“Here is the answer: Israel is not a member of NATO, NATO countries and its allies defended Israel by showing the Iranian forces that Israel is not alone and this is a lesson. It’s a response to everyone who says you need to be careful when helping Ukraine and not messing up NATO.”
Illusion 1: Ye shall receive more than have not
The first illusion for Zelensky is whether he can actually have the weapons and ammunition he is asking for.
For distinguished University of Chicago political science professor John Mearsheimer, the answer is clearly no.
“The question is whether he can get the weapons, and the answer is no,” Meerheimer says in a show on a YouTube channel, explaining that the reason is that the Americans do not have the equipment on a shelf and can give it to them immediately.
After all, “the idea that the F-16s are going to come in and change the balance has been an illusion that’s been in the press for a while. But now the press also understands it and doesn’t pay so much attention.”
Only Zelensky seems to believe so.
Zelensky is right, but…
Regarding the comparison with Israel, the American professor believes that the Ukrainian leader is simply expressing his frustration for the following reason, which is a reality.
“He is right to say that the Americans are not coming to the defense of Ukraine in the sense that they are fighting on behalf of Israel,” says Mearsheimer. “This happened on April 14, we played a central role [ΗΠΑ] stopping the Iranian attack on Israel and that bothers Zelensky very much.”
However, the Ukrainian president does not understand two things, according to the American professor:
“First, it says that Israel is not a NATO ally, but the point is that Israel has such a special relationship with the US that it is far more important than NATO membership.”
After all, Israel is in a class by itself, says the American scientist.
Although the professor is right, we would say that Zelensky knows this, however, for the eyes of the world, he probably wanted to expose to the public the institutional dimension of this injustice, in order to convince the public of the double standards of allies.
Of course, the argument is not as strong as it seems.
Illusion 2: Eagles don’t beat bears
Second, as Mearsheimer explains, if the US defends Ukraine militarily it will mean war with Russia, while if it defends Israel it will not end up fighting Russia, but some kind of conflict with Iran.
“But while this is acceptable for the US, a war with Russia is not,” Mearsheimer points out.
Besides, as one commentator noted – as an exaggeration – on social media, “someone tell Zelensky that the American eagle can fly high and send help, but it cannot fight the bear on the ground.”
