The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy is meeting meeting today, the 21^st December 2022, the US President, Joe Biden. It is his first trip outside Ukrainian borders, since the Russian invasion started on the 24^th February 2022.

The White House confirmed the visit of the Ukrainian president and highlighted that it would provide the Ukrainian Armed Forces with one “Patriot” missile battery, significantly increasing Ukrainian air-defence capabilities in its fight in the Russian aggression.

Zelenzkyy’s visit in a foreign country, during a war that started in February 2022 can be seen as a first, and a great surprise that shows how important the relationship between the USA, its allies and Ukraine really is. Together, they will play a significant part in providing Ukraine with the military support it needs. US leaders confirmed their support again, consisting of a two billion USD aid, for military assistance to Ukraine, which includes a new “Patriot” missile system. It will assist Ukraine in protecting its infrastructure against Russian attacks. Ukrainian officials have been asking major international actors for a stronger air defence system for a long time. We also see as relevant the fact that the USA will significantly contribute to training the Ukrainian troops on how to use the “Patriot” system. This will “take time” and take place in “another country”.

We must highlight the fact that the USA are currently working on a bill that includes giving Ukraine a 45 billion USD aid in 2023. As far as general expenditures for direct military support are concerned, the USA engaged in this support programme more than any other country. The USA spend five billion USD a month for Ukraine’s support. That is what the Ukrainian President said in one of his statements.

The main countries that helped support Ukraine defend itself against Russia are:

USA - 18,51 billion USD
Germany - 2,34 billion USD
UK - 1,9 billion USD
Poland - 1,82 billion USD
Canada - 0,99 billion USD
France - 0,47 billion USD
Czech Republic - 0,44 billion USD
Sweden - 0,39 billion USD
Estonia - 0,33 billion USD
Italy - 0,32 billion USD

Under such circumstances, we must draw attention on the fact that Zelenskyy’s visit to Washington D.C. comes a day after he paid an unannounced visit to Bakhmut (Donetsk, 20^th December 2022), the frontline of the military confrontations, where the Ukrainian and Russian forces fought intensively for several days. The Ukrainian President met his troops and awarded his soldiers. This visit was clearly meant as an act of defiance to Russia, as well as to show support for the Ukrainian forces, engaged in some of the fiercest fights in the past few weeks.

At the same time, on the same day, 20^th December 2022, the Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded medals in the Kremlin, to Russian militaries involved in the Ukrainian invasion. Moreover, he requested the strengthening of Russia’s borders, and sought to command and train the Russian Security Agency so he could exert more control on the society and cast out “traitors, spies and saboteurs”. When he addressed his audience on the occasion of the Security Agency Worker’s Day, Putin asked (19^th December 2022) his security officials to protect Russian borders, enhance control over the Russian society and maximise the “use of operational, technical and personnel” resources to prevent the risks that come from abroad and from inside Russia.

In the context of this ongoing war, it looks like Ukraine feels discouraged and believes that the West underestimated the Russian threat, not with regard to the battle field, but with regard to its vital energy resources. At this time, the Russians are making efforts to destroy the Ukrainian electricity networks. Implicitly, all cities in Ukraine are faced with blackouts or restrictions when it comes to electricity supply.

The actions of the Russian leaders are notable, both on a domestic level, as well as on a foreign level. The former Russian President, Dmitri Medvedev went on a surprise visit to Beijing (China) and talked to the Chinese President, Xi Jinping. Among other things, they also discussed the conflict in Ukraine. D. Medvedev, the vice-president of the Russian Security Council stated that he and Xi discussed about the “no limits” strategic partnership between the two countries and about Ukraine, providing no further details.

According to different sources, China stated that it hoped that all parties engaged in the conflict in Ukraine would show reserve and solve their security issues via politics. So stated President Xi Jinping in a message he sent D. Medvedev, during their meetings in Beijing. Xi also told Medvedev that he hoped that the political parties that govern the two countries the Chinese Communist Party and United Russia could promote dialogue and create the proper environment to deepen the strategic cooperation between Russia and China.