American Fighters Captured By Russia
Ukraine war fatigue sets in as states are complacent with the aid they have sent
Russia is doing what terrorists do, and that is to capture high value hostages to blackmail other parties. The Americans who have been captured by the Russians have allegedly been seen making pro-Russian statements on Russian state television. Like the captured British born soldiers, they will be used for propaganda by the Russians. While the British born soldiers served in the Ukrainian army, the status and positions of the American fighters is unknown.
Russia seems to be formulating new plans now, and don’t seem to be interested in the grain blockade and are hoping that countries will buy the stolen grain from them. The sanctions are beginning to make a difference, and will the Russian people turn on Putin if they end up suffering?
Other countries such as the Netherlands state they are prepared to bear the brunt of the rising cost of food if it means Ukraine will be a free and democratic state. Some countries will not share that view, but are unlikely to broadcast it for fear of being called a Putin pleaser. With the trio of appeasers publicly declaring (Macron, Scholz, and Draghi) that they support Ukraine, it is a battle of the West versus Russia. Whether the leaders felt obliged to back off from their appeasement positions or not is irrelevant for the vote next week, but one should remain cautious as all three wanted appeasement but realised no one including the UN thought it was a good idea. They may revisit their original rhetoric at some point and it won’t be forgotten.
Things will take a turn this time next week when the EU votes on whether Ukraine should have candidate status. https://eu-ua.kmu.gov.ua/istorii-uspikhu/opytuvalnyk-yes-ta-vidpovidi-na-nogo-dlya-nabuttya-ukrayinoyu-statusu-kandydata-v
On 28 February 2022 Ukraine presented its application for membership of the European Union. On 7 March 2022, the Council invited the European Commission to submit to the Council its Opinion on this application for membership.
In its Opinion, the Commission will analyse Ukraine’s application on the basis of its capacity to meet the criteria set by the Copenhagen European Council of 1993, which require:
"that the candidate country has achieved stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities; the existence of a functioning market economy, as well as the capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union; the ability to take on the obligations of membership, including adherence to the aim of political, economic and monetary union."
At the same time, as defined by the 1995 Madrid European Council, applicant countries are expected to develop their administrative structures and the EU needs to be able to integrate new members.
Day 115 (18 June)
Yuliya Payevska, aka Tayra is a prominent humanitarian aid medic who was captured by the Russians. She was released by the Russians on Friday, but no further news has been disclosed as to whether it was a prisoner swap.
Russian state television has released videos of what appears to be two Americans who had gone to Ukraine to help fight. Alexander Drueke and Andy Huynh, have both been missing for a week and the videos show that they have been captured by the Russians. Claims have been made that they were seen being taken away with their hands tied behind their backs. Both are veterans. A third American has gone missing, Grady Kurpasi, a 20-year veteran who was fighting in the Donbas region.
All the men knew the risks they were taking and that the US government had no authority to intervene or extract them.
Zelenskyy visits Mykolaiv which is a city near the Black Sea that has been a Russian target since the start of the invasion.
A Russian warship has been testing the countries in the Baltic states by violating the Danish territorial waters yesterday. These actions are often seen as warning signs, and to test the defences to see how a country reacts.
In the meantime, both President Putin and President Biden appear to be not at all well.