From President Zelensky: “For us, it is important that China does not support the Russian Federation in this war. In fact, I would like it to be on our side. At the moment, however, I don’t think it’s possible.  But I do see an opportunity for China to make a pragmatic assessment of what is happening here. Because if China allies itself with Russia, there will be a world war, and I do think that China is aware of that.” 

Despite the continuing efforts which one head of government described as akin to “an annoying pest,” President Zelensky seeks to reconstruct, reposition, and remarket the Russian Federation-Ukraine war into a Russian Federation-NATO war and, preferably a Russian Federation-United States war, whatever the outcome of the Russian Federation-Ukraine war, favorable or unfavorable to the government of Ukraine.  

What is happening on the territory of Ukraine will not transform into a World War if the government of the People’s Republic of China provides military equipment to the armed forces of the Russian Federation.   

If the Xi Jinping Administration (2013- ) decides to publicly assist with supporting the armed forces of the Russian Federation, then there will have been a calculation that Beijing will not be on the losing side of the war- regardless of who participates.  Unless President Xi believes better for him to help someone lose so the result serves better the future interests of Beijing. 

As the head of government continued, “The government of Ukraine is not a member of NATO and not a member of the EU.  While there is any conflict within the territory of Ukraine and for considerable time after, the country will not ascend to membership in NATO or the EU.”   

There is no unanimity among the members of NATO or the EU for Ukraine as a member of either entity.  Rather than continuing to demand what will not be, the Zelensky Administration should focus attention within- the progress with requirements for EU membership and appreciate that simply enacting new statutes, changing existing statutes, enacting new regulations, changing existing regulations, enacting new constitutional amendments, and changing existing constitutional amendments does not mean Ukraine is a member of the EU.   

There must then be time, considerable time, for what has been enacted to become an institutionalized.  For example, the endemic corruption that existed on 23 February 2022 did not vaporize after 24 February 2022.  The government of Ukraine will not be a member of the EU by 2026.  That’s preposterous- and a serious politician should know not to utter outlandish timelines.

Being attacked by the armed forces of the Russian Federation and then provided with military equipment from NATO members and other countries is not a Willy Wonka-esque golden ticket to membership in NATO and in the EU.  If this were fact, then the government of Ukraine would have ascended to membership in NATO and the EU in 2014 or soon thereafter.  There are other countries in line for EU membership.  Inappropriate for the integrity of the EU to abridge that order. 

A Zelensky Administration in NATO may be an unreliable member.  At the slightest real or perceived issue with the government of the Russian Federation or other country, the government of Ukraine would push, threaten, and berate the collective NATO alliance for further escalation

with the Russian Federation or other country.  President Zelensky conveniently ignores that Article 5 of the NATO charter does not require any member to do anything militarily.   

For now, President Zelensky wants as many pieces of military equipment as possible in Ukraine so that when the Russian Federation-Ukraine war has a cessation he will refuse requests to return the equipment- admonishing that since the equipment was provided by NATO member countries, since NATO said Ukraine would have an opportunity to seek membership in NATO, then Ukraine with NATO equipment is now a NATO member. 

For some members of NATO and the EU, if there could be a cessation to the Russian Federation-Ukraine war where the territorial borders existing on 23 February 2022 were again on-the-table by President Putin or the territorial borders existing in some manner in 2023 were on-the-table by President Putin, governments who have asked their taxpayers to borrow to support the government of Ukraine along with global commodity price impact and resulting economic inflation, supporters of the Zelensky Administration will likely review carefully the proposal(s) irrespective of the “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine” moniker. 

• From media reporting: “The United States continues to lead the world in contributions to Ukraine with nearly $200 billion in promised or sent aid, as the U.S. ally continues its fight against Russia.  According to the Ukrainian government, the U.S. leads all countries with $196 billion in total military, financial and humanitarian aid to Ukraine between Jan. 24, 2022 through Nov. 20, 2022. Germany has sent the second-most funds, with $172 billion sent in that span.  In that same span, the rest of the world has contributed less than $75 billion of total aid, with most of that sum coming from the United Kingdom ($28.2 billion), Poland ($24.3 billion), and Estonia ($5.48 billion).  These figures do not include loans sent to Ukraine or additional contributions that were approved by their respective governments between Dec. 2022 and Feb. 2023.” 

President Zelensky and his team of theatrical producers are embarking with on-the-road shows.  More accurately, he is becoming like pay-per-view: If you give money or military equipment to Ukraine, he will perform for twenty minutes or so.  The just-concluded Munich Security Conference wanted desperately President Zelensky in person- after all he had visited recently the United States, France, and Brussels.  Unfortunately, the organizers could not deliver the required consideration- so they settled for remarks and a brief question-and-answer session…. By video. 

But, contacted by an actor or singer or “influencer” and Zelensky Productions will deliver the goods.

LINK TO COMPLETE ANALYSIS IN PDF FORMAT