On Thursday, October 3, former US State Department Special Representative Kurt Volker testified in front of the Congress about his involvement in the Donald Trump and Joe Biden scandal. Notably, the US President Donald Trump allegedly excercised pressure during a telephone conversation with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky, subtly convincing the Ukrainian leader to initiate an investigation into the Biden family in Ukraine. For his part, Mr. Volker allegedly advised his Ukrainian partners on the best behavior in light of the investigation requests.
According to Volker, Ukrainian representatives asked him why the US had suspended military aid to Ukraine and failed to agree on the date of Trump's meeting with Zelensky. Volker, in turn, asked his Ukrainian colleagues not to get involved in American politics. Apostrophe asked the foreign policy expert of the International Centre for Policy Studies, Mykola Kapitonenko, to comment on the development of events.
As of now, Ukraine appears to serve as a tool in the US domestic conflicts. In particular, Ukrainian politicians eagerly contacted Donald Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, as Ukraine is a weak and dependent state, with weak institutions and big problems. Our foreign policy is squeezing out, despite all problematic moments, nearlyt he maximum out of the available resources. For the political elites, however, any contact with Americans is a way to increase their weight and gain additional legitimization. Trump has a certain "merit" in it. He has somewhat changed the political culture in the United States, increasing the society's attention to hints and informal matters.
Giuliani negotiated with Volodymyr Zelensky's team on the investigation of Hunter Biden, Joe Biden's son. Most likely, the negotiations were arranged rather neatly, as Giuliani is an experienced lawyer and is unlikely to say anything compromising. There were no demands from the US government. He communicated simply Donald Trump's confidant.
Nevertheless, I don't think there's any tragedy in that - it's Donald Trump's style. I don't see any moments where we have clearly lost our dignity. We are getting out of the situation, minimizing the risks. I think the worst development of this story will follow after the elections in the United States, not now. All those who were offended and thought that Ukraine had done something wrong are likely take revenge on us.
Kurt Volker's resignation is a separate story. He held a very comfortable and easy job, not influencing serious processes neither in Washington nor Ukraine. He, so to speak, "traded his face", receiving additional attention in both countries. At one point, it should have come to an end. I do not think that the current scenario was Volker's worst option.
As for Ukraine, I do not think that the resignation of the National Security and Defence Council Secretary Oleksandr Danylyuk is closely related to these events. It is rather a question of adapting the new team to the conditions that have arisen. Two months ago it was clear that some of the appointments were temporary and people would change. Then, there were questions about the President's Office, about the same Andriy Bogdan. Now, perhaps, one of the ministers will resign. But again, it is not because of the American story.
The Verkhovna Rada Foreign Policy Committee now has less comments on the "American story" than the press. It serves more as a media topic, while the experts and MPs formed thir positions a week before last. It boils down to the fact that we should not get involved in the American "showdown", nor should we take sides in the US elections.
