Zelenskyy~ Ukraine Retreat Due To No US Funding
The bill still hasn't been voted on after 6 months
American words seem meaningless when they say they will do what it takes to help Ukraine to win the war against Russia, yet the executive branch does not control Congress (legislative), and Zelenskyy has admitted that Ukraine had to retreat because the promised aid never materialised from the US. The bill had been sidelined by a right wing House of Representatives leader, Mike Johnson who says he will put it t a vote after the Easter break. However, sources indicate that he is trying to amend the bill and change the funding to a loan (that we know can’t be repaid).
Ukraine can now see that they can’t depend on the US or allies alone, and the age of conscription has been lowered to 25 now—however, I can’t see why it can’t see why if can’t be reduced to 21? Zelenskyy has also been shifting his personnel around, and they seem to make a big song and dance about people being dismissed from their jobs, only to then find they have been promoted or given a top job. Somehow, Ukraine thinks that they can find all these extra soldiers by lowering the age of conscription when most of the men have left Ukraine or have been caught trying to leave. The volunteer numbers had dropped, in fact I’m surprised there are any left to volunteer as if you were going to do so, surely you would;d have done it by now?
The attacks on oil refineries in Russia now extend to drone making factories too. The US have discouraged the attacks, but they can’t really speak when they have held up vital military aid that the Ukrainian army need, and is how they developed their battle strategy with the weapons and equipment that never arrived because the bill hasn’t been passed. Besides the fact that Ukraine is using weapons that they have produced and that do not contain components from the allies countries, therefore, Ukraine can do as they wish with their own weapons.
It’s really rather a dire situation with Ukraine saying that the F-16s may not be of much use 2 years late, as they need more ammunition and howitzers to defend territory in Bakhmut. As usual, the Baltic states are rallying around Ukraine, but they can only donate so much and it’s not enough to defeat Russia. Meanwhile, Russian propagandists continue with the idea that Russia will take back the Baltic states as well once Ukraine has been ‘returned’ to Russia. I find that we are waiting for a full blown war to happen while the world leaders are playing with words and doing things by the book with old and outdated charters and guidelines against a country who has broken all the laws and charters.
Day 765 (29 Mar)
Tusk of Poland has stated that war is a real threat and cautions other EU countries to be prepared. He says that currently Europe is in a ‘pre-war’ stage and that Europe is not ready to defend itself should an attack occur.
Zelenskyy meets with European Parliament’s Renew Europe group to discuss assistance and aid.
Japan and the UK have assisted Ukraine with a $1.5 billion loan to help with the Growth Pillar policy, as funds were transferred via the World Bank to assist with social needs and reconstruction since the US funding ceased.
Zelenskyy held a cal with Mike Johnson, the speaker for the HoR and who is holding up voting on the bill to provide $60 billion in aid to Ukraine. It has now been 6 months since the bill was introduced and Johnson has stalled the vote for more than 2 months now after the Senate had also caused delays.
Poland scrambles fighter jets again in response to a Russian missile attack aimed at Ukraine but where the missile passes through Polish airspace.
Romania and Moldova investigate drones crashing near the borders with Ukraine. This is now becoming more commonplace as Russian attacks are increasing.
Russian shot down their own Su-27 aircraft by accident over Crimea, such is the need by the Russians to shoot down anyone considered an enemy, but failing to recognise their own troops.
The dismissed Security Chief Oleksiy Danilov has been announced at the next ambassador to Moldova.
The Belgian defence minister announced €100 million to support the maintenance of the F-16 jet coalition.
Day 766 (30 Mar)
Russia withdraws valuable naval ships from the Black Sea due to Ukrainian drones targeting the ships.
The Turkish airline Southward has been banned by the EU due to company links with Russia.
Zelenskyy states that Ukraine has had no choice but to retreat due to a lack of weapons that should have arrived with the US funding.
No US aid, no choice but retreat.
Russia has begun to reinforce the borders around Belgorod, Kursk and Bryanskwhere training ion new recruits is also taking place.
Czech intelligence uncovered a scheme where European politicians were bribed by the Russians to promote Russian interests.
Day 767 (31 Mar)
The second anniversary of the Bucha massacre. 514 are still missing and 180 bodies remain unidentified.
Putin has ordered the building of seaside resorts in the occupied areas in Ukraine. This, it appears is to encourage Russians to move to the area and to settle making deoccupation of the areas more difficult.
Day 768 (1 Apr)
Moldova, Romania and the US are holding joint military exercises (JCET-2024) Joint Combined Exchange Training from 1 -19 April. This appears to be a way to help Moldova train their troops to defend themselves in case of an attack and include exercises at night and representatives of the Panther Special Forces will also take part as well as State Protection Service personnel.
Russian smugglers are using cryptocurrency to get around sanctions to buy weapons and components.
Ukraine has a grant from Japan for $118 million from World Bank projects HEAL and HOPE to aid healthcare and housing in Ukraine.
The area around Bohdanivka has experienced heavy fighting as Ukraine runs out of weapons and ammunition. Since the lapse of aid from the US, Ukraine has had to retreat and scale back on military plans.
Day 769 (2 Apr)
A Ukrainian drone has targeted a drone making factory in Yelabuga, and an oil refinery in Nizhnekamsk, which is in a special economic zone. This is where foreign investors tend to set up businesses, in particular it is thought this is where the Shahed drones made by Iran are assembled.
At the Restoring Justice for Ukraine conference in the Netherlands, more than 40 countries have demanded that a special tribunal be set up for Russia to answer to their war crimes.
Ukrainians who had their homes destroyed by the Russians can claim compensation when reparations take place.
Belarus begin military drills near the borders of Lithuania and Poland. This is how the invasion of Ukraine took place, and it seems that the military drills are to unnerve the other side, but also to test the defences and to find weaknesses.
The TANECO oil refinery in Nizhnekamsk, Tatarstan was hit by a Ukrainian drone. It was next to a factory assembling Shahed drones, owned by the Iranians.
Day 770 (3 Apr)
Zelenskyy finally signed into law a decree to lower the conscription age from 27 to 25. The bill (No 9281) had been passed in May 2023, but Zelenskyy only signed it today after nearly a year. A huge error and miscalculation? While many applaud Zelenskyy, he has lacked the military skills necessary to defend Ukraine, but has done a good job most of the time. Firing and replacing key personnel is another error as well as failing to have a mobilisation scheme in place that worked.
A new Russian offensive that will probably take place once Spring is over and the weather favours tanks. Perhaps that’s why Zelenskyy has had to face the fact that the Americans aren’t going to save him and there are no more volunteers left to fight, and soldiers need to be rotated.
Finland has signed long term bilateral security guarantees with Ukraine. This will probably anger Putin, while Finland offers another aid package (23rd) worth $200 million.
The SBU is investigating more than 1,600 cases of treason in Ukraine. This shows how widespread corruption was and is, which is why there can be no peace until Russia is ousted completely as Russian agents will remain in Ukraine to steer further attacks.
Kuleba meets with EU allies on Brussels requesting patriot air defence systems. The US has not been able to provide the assistance Ukraine has been used to and supplies were expected to have run out by the end of March.
Putin ordering the building of seaside resorts in the occupied areas in Ukraine, reminds me of when the USSR had apartment buildings built along the coastline of the Baltic Sea in Lithuania (and possibly Latvia and Estonia) for the use of Russian workers on their paid for summer vacation time.