Day X. Why the US elections are important for Ukraine

The US elections are one of the main events of the year in the world, which will have a direct impact on the further course of the Russian-Ukrainian war.

RBC-Ukraine explains what aspects of the change of power in the US are important in the context of supporting Ukraine.

The entire planet is watching the US elections, without exaggeration: both allies around the world and enemies such as Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea.

The United States remains the most powerful military power in the world, with a strong network of influence in the form of allies and military bases on its territory. Washington also retains influence over international financial institutions and the economies of most of the world.

For Ukraine, the most important thing is the impact of the election on Russia's war against Ukraine. The course of the new occupant of the White House, whoever it is, will directly affect Ukraine's ability to continue its armed resistance next year or push it to negotiate. And there are several dimensions to consider.

US diplomacy

Because of its overall power, the United States has a major influence on the position of its allies in supporting Ukraine. First of all, we are talking about NATO members. There are those countries in the Alliance that unconditionally support Kyiv and provide it with military and financial assistance, and support Ukraine's accession to NATO. First of all, these are the United Kingdom, Canada, the Baltic States and Northern Europe, with some nuances - Poland.

At the same time, Germany and some others provide support to Ukraine in portions and oppose Ukraine's accession to NATO. In the case of Germany, there have been repeated refusals to provide weapons. Progress on this issue occurred only when similar weapons came from the United States. At the same time, there is still a ban on strikes with American weapons on Russian territory. Germany maintains the same position.

However, it is not only about bringing together NATO members, but also the US allies in East Asia and the Middle East. A striking example of such diplomatic efforts is the Ramstein contact group of defense ministers, which brings together more than 50 countries.

The new US president can either continue this line, as Kamala Harris states, or actually break up the Western coalition in support of Ukraine, as Trump has repeatedly hinted at.

Author - Dmitriy Levchenko, 04/11/2024