Stephen Bryen
InsideOver is a popular Italian online news channel. On November 14, journalist Roberto Vivaldelli asked me some questions about US policy and Ukraine. Readers will find the original article in Italian here. This English-language version is republished with the permission of Stephen Bryen.
Robert Vivaldelli: Jake Sullivan recently announced that President Biden plans to request additional funding from Congress for Ukraine. How would you interpret this decision at this point?
Stephen Bryen: In the United States we would call Biden’s request for more Ukraine funding a “Hail Mary Pass” (a term used in American football). It means he is making the request to show his solidarity with Ukraine and to try and squeeze the Republicans to somehow support Ukraine in future. My own opinion is that Congress will not take up the Biden proposal, instead waiting for Trump to take office. I don’t think Biden believes the measure has any chance.
Conditions have changed since the last, massive supplemental for Ukraine. Huge expenditures have not improved Ukraine’s situation. In fact, the Russians continue to make significant gains against Ukraine’s army and continue to devastate the Ukrainian critical infrastructure, especially the power grid.
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