https://sputnikglobe.com/20231231/there-is-no-stomach-in-us-to-continue-funding-ukraine---ex-pentagon-official-1115908133.html
There is 'No Stomach’ in US to Continue Funding Ukraine - Ex-Pentagon Official
There is 'No Stomach’ in US to Continue Funding Ukraine - Ex-Pentagon Official
Sputnik International
The reality is that there is “no stomach” any longer in the West to fund Ukraine and the ongoing proxy conflict against Russia there, Michael Maloof, a former Pentagon official, told Sputnik.
2023-12-31T08:12+0000
2023-12-31T08:12+0000
2023-12-31T17:07+0000
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The reality is that there is “no stomach” any longer in the West to fund Ukraine and the ongoing proxy conflict against Russia there, Michael Maloof, a former Pentagon official, told Sputnik.The Kiev regime is going to have to seriously consider some form of negotiation and look at the realities, he emphasized.“The United States has their appropriations hung up. The US government could shut down by January 17 if the administration and Congress can't negotiate and work out an arrangement for funding Ukraine and Israel, but at the same time to enforce the border. I think the Republicans to date have held firm, and we'll see if they'll hold on. But there's no stomach right now any longer to fund the Ukrainians. Frankly, the people see that the war is over. Basically, the [Ukrainian] counteroffensive failed, and there's no way that they can pick it back up and turn things around, because they've gone into total defensive mode. The so-called counteroffensive just does not exist,” said Maloof.Earlier, the US Congress adjourned for the winter holiday break without reaching a deal on security at the US border with Mexico and additional aid for Ukraine. Republican lawmakers have insisted on the inclusion of more stringent border security measures in the Biden administration’s $106 billion supplemental funding request, which includes more than $60 billion in aid for Ukraine. US Senator Chris Murphy said that negotiators hope to have a deal to present to senators by the time they return on January 8.Looking ahead, Michael Maloof predicted there was going to be a quite "tumultuous" start to 2024 in the United States.Furthermore, funding not only for Ukraine, but also for Israel is going to feed into the internal debate, the pundit suggested, because the United States is “pretty fed up” with the extent to which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has blown up the current cycle of the Palestine-Israel conflict. Besides the death of so many civilians in Gaza amid Israel’s war on Hamas, Netanyahu “appears to be trying to pick a fight with the Iranians, and this whole thing could explode,” the expert warned.The entire debate about funding NATO’s proxy war against Russia in Ukraine, and aiding Israel in its war on Hamas is playing out while “the American people are not happy with the economy, notwithstanding what Wall Street is showing,” Maloof noted.Russia, on the other hand, has managed to weather the barrage of economic sanctions imposed against it by Western powers amid the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, adapting its economy and redirecting the flow of exports from Europe to Asia and Africa.If opposition to greenlighting Congress’ bankrolling the Kiev regime continues to grow, “there is an alternative that the administration is working on now,” Michael Maloof pointed out. It has to do with the United States and certain Western countries having frozen Russian assets in certain Western banks, he said.If it were to be carried out, things could “escalate even further,” warned Maloof. He added:Moscow earlier warned of retaliatory repercussions against any Western countries that would use Russia’s frozen assets to assist the Kiev regime. "Those who are trying to initiate this, and those who will implement it, must understand that Russia will never leave those who did this alone. And it will constantly exercise its right to a legal battle, internationally, nationally or otherwise. And this, of course, will have — both Europeans and Americans understand this very well — it will have legal consequences for those who initiated and implemented it," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned earlier.Furthermore, a number of pundits told Sputnik that if, indeed, the Biden administration was considering using the Russian assets that are frozen in Western banks to fund the Kiev government, it would be setting a dangerous precedent. Other countries would get further proof that the dollar is no longer a reliable global reserve currency if the US can just seize somebody's money, breaking the terms of the global financial and economic system that was set up by the US and the West starting all the way back with Bretton Woods in the 1960s.Overall, looking at the direction that the Biden administration appears to be heading in, and the funding plans it hopes to push through Congress, Michael Maloof warned:“Our standing in the world will be down to zero… It's pretty low now... But then we're going it'll be down to zero.”
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231227/us-announces-final-250-million-ukraine-aid-package-for-2023-1115839951.html
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There is 'No Stomach’ in US to Continue Funding Ukraine - Ex-Pentagon Official
08:12 GMT 31.12.2023 (Updated: 17:07 GMT 31.12.2023) Kiev's quest to garner ever more support from its Western donors is facing an increasingly daunting challenge. Ukraine’s failed counteroffensive, political infighting, and corruption have been fueling the waning support for the regime both in the US, where financial aid for it faces political hurdles, and in the EU.
The reality is that there is “no stomach” any longer in the West
to fund Ukraine and the ongoing proxy conflict against Russia there,
Michael Maloof, a former Pentagon official,
told Sputnik.
The Kiev regime is going to have to seriously consider some form of negotiation and look at the realities, he emphasized.
“The United States has their appropriations hung up. The US government could shut down by January 17 if the administration and Congress can't negotiate and work out an arrangement for funding Ukraine and Israel, but at the same time to enforce the border. I think the Republicans to date have held firm, and we'll see if they'll hold on. But there's no stomach right now any longer to fund the Ukrainians. Frankly, the people see that the war is over. Basically, the [Ukrainian] counteroffensive failed, and there's no way that they can pick it back up and turn things around, because they've gone into total defensive mode. The so-called counteroffensive just does not exist,” said Maloof.
Earlier, the US Congress adjourned for the winter holiday break
without reaching a deal on security at the US border with Mexico and additional aid for Ukraine. Republican lawmakers have insisted on the inclusion of more stringent border security measures in the Biden administration’s $106 billion supplemental funding request, which includes more than $60 billion in aid for Ukraine. US Senator Chris Murphy said that negotiators hope to have a deal to present to senators by the time they return on January 8.
Looking ahead, Michael Maloof predicted there was going to be a quite "tumultuous" start to 2024 in the United States.
“We have got to worry about our whether our government is even going to be open for business,” he pointed out, adding that “there is a second tranche in February that would shut down as well if they have not reached a resolution on funding the government agencies the way the House has dictated.”
Furthermore, funding not only for Ukraine, but also for Israel is going to feed into the internal debate, the pundit suggested, because the United States is “
pretty fed up” with the extent to which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has blown up the current cycle of the
Palestine-Israel conflict. Besides the death of so many civilians in Gaza amid Israel’s war on Hamas, Netanyahu “appears to be trying to pick a fight with the Iranians, and this whole thing could explode,” the expert warned.
“I guess he [Benjamin Netanyahu] thinks he can go ahead and start raising all kinds of havoc not only with Iran, but also with Hezbollah up north. So are we going to help fund all of that? I mean, that's the big question. And I don't think there's any stomach for that, considering that, you know, we are entering an election year,” said the former senior security policy analyst in the Office of the US Secretary of Defense.
27 December 2023, 20:53 GMT
The entire debate about funding
NATO’s proxy war against Russia in Ukraine, and aiding Israel in its war on Hamas is playing out while “
the American people are not happy with the economy, notwithstanding what Wall Street is showing,” Maloof noted.
“Of course, they're all dancing up there on Wall Street. But the reality for the American people every day is that it's not working for them. And those are the people who vote,” he noted.
Despite unemployment numbers in the US being low, inflation slowing down, and the overall US economy looking good on paper, most Americans continue to report feeling “worse off” under the so-called “Bidenomics.” Despite the Federal Reserve’s decision to hike interest rates, inflation has continued to affect costs of goods and services. All this has translated into Biden’s remarkably dismal standing with voters ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Biden’s approval rating dipped to a historic low of under 40% for the fifth time this year in December.
Russia, on the other hand, has managed to weather the barrage of economic sanctions imposed against it by Western powers amid the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, adapting its economy and redirecting the flow of exports from Europe to Asia and Africa. 
19 December 2023, 06:27 GMT
If opposition to greenlighting Congress’ bankrolling the Kiev regime continues to grow, “
there is an alternative that the administration is working on now,” Michael Maloof pointed out. It has to do with the United States and certain Western countries having
frozen Russian assets in certain Western banks, he said.
“The United States is hoping that this money will be able to be used not only to rebuild the country [Ukraine], but perhaps to help finance further a war against Russia. Well, Russia is quite concerned about this, and [Foreign Minister Sergey] Lavrov has been talking about it,” said Maloof.
Following the start of Russia's special military operation, the US-led West slapped widespread sanctions on Moscow, including freezing Russian assets worth approximately 300 billion euros ($329 billion). The bulk of this sum, approximately 200 billion euros ($221 billion), is held in the European Union, predominantly in accounts at Euroclear, a European central securities depository.
If it were to be carried out, things could “escalate even further,” warned Maloof. He added:
“We could have further complications on our hands if the Biden administration and his lunatic neocons want to continue a war through Ukraine with Russia. And it's just got to stop at some point. Congress has got to take affirmative action.”
Moscow earlier warned of retaliatory repercussions against any Western countries that would use Russia’s frozen assets to assist the Kiev regime. "Those who are trying to initiate this, and those who will implement it, must understand that Russia will never leave those who did this alone. And it will constantly exercise its right to a legal battle, internationally, nationally or otherwise. And this, of course, will have — both Europeans and Americans understand this very well — it will have legal consequences for those who initiated and implemented it," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned earlier.
Furthermore, a number of pundits
told Sputnik that if, indeed, the Biden administration was considering using the Russian assets that are frozen in Western banks to fund the Kiev government, it would be setting a dangerous precedent. Other countries would get further proof that
the dollar is no longer a reliable global reserve currency if the US can just seize somebody's money, breaking the terms of the global financial and economic system that was set up by the US and the West starting all the way back with Bretton Woods in the 1960s.
“The West will have had a tremendous setback as a consequence because we [the US] have overused the idea of sanctions as a tool of economic and political pressure. And we use it on everybody. And now even our allies and our friends. And it's got to stop,” said Michael Maloof.
23 December 2023, 04:03 GMT
Overall, looking at the direction that
the Biden administration appears to be heading in, and the funding plans it hopes to push through Congress, Michael Maloof warned:
“Our standing in the world will be down to zero… It's pretty low now... But then we're going it'll be down to zero.”
