Day 60 ~ Austria Opposes The Ukrainian EU Membership Application
The Mariupol evacuation collapses again
Last night, Zelenskyy announced that the US Secretary of State (Blinken) and the for Defense, Lloyd Austin would visit Kyiv today (Sunday) but the White House made no comment. They have not confirmed or denied it but probably wish any visit to be kept under wraps until it has been completed. Zelenskyy, on the other hand wishes to use the visit to show Russia that the US is their ally. Sunday is nearly over and there has been no news yet whether the visit has taken place.
News that the UN Secretary General will go to Turkey first (Monday) to speak to Erdogan, then Russia to speak to Putin, and then Kyiv and Thursday where he will meet with Zelenskyy. I have pretty much zero faith in Antonio Guterres, and I would like to be proved wrong, but what can his words do? The UN has no powers of enforcement and can’t arrest anyone either. The best he can do is set up more discussions. People should be uncomfortable with Turkey being used as the mediator, as the country has ties with Russia and Ukraine, and that should speak for itself.
As expected, the evacuation corridor in Mariupol failed again, and Odesa was also attacked. No one is surprised at this, yet what is the solution? How do you get the Russians out, because that is what is necessary? You cannot concede territory because that is effectively surrendering and then it opens the door for Russia to instigate further alleged ‘special military operations’ when they feel like it.
The outcome of this war depends on the external actors, and when they choose (or have no choice) to be active participants in the war. We keep hearing of more weapons being sent, but as the Ukrainian army is telling us, they barely last a day and more weapons are needed to replace them. What is the solution? For all these countries to send weekly supplies? That won’t solve the issue, but no one wants to admit what they need to do, and the cost of the war is escalating around the world. Countries who are assisting are using up their defence budgets, and prices are rising around the world. There will come a point when these countries cannot send more weapons because they need them for their own defence, then what? Will they shrug their shoulders and say they did what they could, or actively help save what is left of Ukraine?
Day 60 (23 April)
The Mariupol evacuation plan fails again. Part of me wonders why people didn’t leave earlier until things got out of hand? Perhaps the Ukrainians trusted the UN to come to their aid and they didn’t?
Residential buildings were targeted in Odesa, where a mother and her baby were amongst those who were killed.
On Orthodox Easter, there has been no ceasefire. The Pope has hoped that his words to have a ceasefire would carry weight, but he probably knew that they are meaningless to ruthless dictators. Putin attended midnight mass in Moscow last night.
Austria has openly opposed the Ukraine’s EU application for membership, stating that there should be other ways for the EU to maintain ties with Ukraine. Austria is a neutral state, but is a member of the EU and has showed support towards Ukraine, but has only supplied humanitarian aid and aid for civilians. Many expected if any country was to object, it would be Hungary.
There are suggestions that talks should be held in Mariupol to discuss the safe evacuation of the civilians that have been trapped for 2 months now. As Russia has occupied most of the city, it is hard to see how the Russians can be ousted unless additional troops arrive with weapons, and this would be on humanitarian grounds. If chemical weapons had been used in Mariupol, then it could alter the conditions where a third party could intervene.
Macron has been re-elected in France as expected, and we hope that he can now focus on the Ukrainian issues without having to worry about his job.
Zelenskyy has stated that if the Mariupol steel works are stormed, then there can be no peace talks. Most of us that have observed this event know that Putin has no desire for talks unless he gets what he wants.
Zelenskyy has spoken to Erdogan in assisting Ukraine in providing a secure evacuation corridor in Mariupol.
WTH? Why in the world would Austria oppose Ukraine’s membership in the EU? I read Austrian FM Schalenberg stated something to the effect that there are countries in the Western Balkans that have come a long way. But what does that mean, and what does that have to do with the price of tea in China?
He called for a "different way" for Ukraine to develop ties with Europe. That sounds sadly similar to the US “separate but equal” in the US post-Civil War era. Turns out it was anything but equal and was ultimately overturned by the US Supreme Court in 1954 (Brown v. Board of Education).
Seems like Schalenberg has been drinking Putin’s kool-aid. Austria is NOT a member of NATO, but is in the EU. So a half-in, half-out neutral party? Austria should take a seat.
"Putin has no desire for peace talks unless he gets what he wants." I hope pressure isn't put on Zelensky by the world if there is "a global food crisis".