Ukraine conflict faces uncertain future

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels on Tuesday to discuss future support for Ukraine, as the White House prepares to change hands. Blinken's "emergency" visit comes amid a political crisis in Germany as Chancellor Olaf Scholz faces a no-confidence vote.

America prepares for the future

That context has raised big questions about the upcoming Western aid to Ukraine. According to Reuters, the administration of US President Joe Biden emphasized that it will transfer all remaining aid approved by Congress worth more than $9 billion to Ukraine in the final weeks of his term. Since the war broke out in February 2022, the US has pledged $175 billion in aid to Ukraine. "From now until the end of their term, they will try to transfer everything they can," AFP quoted Mark Cancian, senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS, USA).

Clash Points: Fierce Battle at Kursk; Houthi Attacks US Warship

US President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to end the conflict quickly but has not outlined a plan, prompting Washington's allies to worry that the new administration will pressure Ukraine into a compromise. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he did not know what Trump's specific actions would be, but stressed that only Kyiv had the right to set the terms for ending the conflict.

Ukrainian firefighters extinguish a fire after an attack in Kyiv on November 13.

Speaking in Paris on November 12, French President Emmanuel Macron also stated that nothing should be decided about Ukraine without the Ukrainians. According to a survey recently released by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, as of early October, despite the difficult situation, the majority of Ukrainians (58%) opposed territorial concessions for peace.

According to Reuters, the topic of discussion for Mr. Blinken in Brussels is said to be how Europe can shoulder more responsibility in supporting Ukraine, as the future role of the United States becomes uncertain. Previously, former Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, who will take over as EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy next month, announced that military, financial and humanitarian support for Ukraine will be provided for as long as needed.

Kyiv in trouble

Meanwhile, the situation on the battlefield is said to be unfavorable for Ukraine. Russian troops have been advancing in eastern Ukraine in recent months and are preparing to launch a new campaign in the south.

Russia gradually closes the siege around Kurakhove, the city in eastern Ukraine in danger

Ukrainian military spokesman Vladyslav Voloshyn said on November 12 that Russia was massing infantry and armored vehicles and increasing air strikes to pave the way for an offensive in the south, especially in the direction of Zaporizhzhia. In Russia’s Kursk province, the country is also gathering 50,000 troops, including North Korean soldiers, to push Ukrainian forces out of the country, according to President Zelensky.

US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel confirmed on November 12 that North Korean soldiers had begun fighting alongside Russian forces in Kursk. "More than 10,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to eastern Russia and most of them have been transferred to the western Kursk province, where they have begun combat operations with Russian forces," Patel said. Russian President Vladimir Putin has commented on the information that North Korean soldiers are present in Russia as a "serious matter", but he also noted that the two countries have a cooperation agreement, including a clause on mutual defense. North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jong-gyu did not confirm the presence of soldiers in Russia in October, but affirmed that if it was true, it would not violate international law.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/xung-dot-ukraine-truoc-tuong-lai-kho-luong-18524111323265895.htm