On September 1, the most important event for Ukrainian politics will take place – Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet for the first time with US President Joe Biden. Washington postponed negotiations several times, which Kiev considers an unkind sign. It is expected that at the meeting, politicians will discuss the fate of the oligarch Igor Kolomoisky, judicial reform in Ukraine, Zelensky will try to agree on his candidacy for a second presidential term. Izvestia understood the details of the visit.
When will the meeting take place
The relationship between the Ukrainian leadership and US President Joe Biden is complicated. After the American leader took office in January this year, early negotiations were expected in Kiev. But Biden phoned a dozen world leaders, and seemed to have forgotten about Vladimir Zelensky. In February, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said that the parties “are actively working on organizing a telephone conversation.” As a result, the first time politicians talked only in April.
The misadventures did not end there. In June, Biden was going on a European tour, including a meeting with Vladimir Putin in Geneva, without contact with Zelensky it would have looked like a dialogue about Ukraine without Ukraine. As a reassurance, the President of the United States called Zelensky a second time on the eve of his departure. It was reported that the American leader then invited the interlocutor to visit Washington this summer. Interestingly, Zelensky clarified that the negotiations would take place in July, but the United States did not give a specific date.
In July, the parties announced that the trip had been postponed to August. Observers assumed that in Washington this way want to avoid awkward questions about the US-Germany Nord Stream 2 deal. The second point is that in August there is a political vacation in the United States, congressmen, including Biden’s opponents, are going on vacation. This means they will not meet with Zelensky and will not use the meeting in the future for an information attack on the American leadership.
First, the parties agreed to hold talks between the two presidents on August 30. Later, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said that the event was postponed until August 31 due to the expansion of the visit program. At the end of August, the meeting was postponed again, it is now scheduled for September 1st… Mikhail Podolyak, adviser to the head of the presidential office, explained that the decision was related to the situation in Afghanistan. “There can be no ambiguity because the American side needs to focus on this topic. For Ukraine, it is undoubtedly more convenient to hold a meeting of leaders in the information environment of the next day. When exactly will Ukraine become a key newsmaker on the American agenda, ”Podolyak said.
What Biden and Zelensky will talk about
The official agenda of the meeting between Zelensky and Biden is known. US Charge d’Affaires in Ukraine Christina Queen says the parties will discuss security, economic and reform issues. The first point was recently discussed at meeting Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Roman Mashovets with the US Embassy’s Defense and Defense Attaché Brittany Stewart. It was, among other things, about increasing the staff of American military advisers in Ukraine.
When discussing economic issues, Zelensky, apparently, will touch upon the topic of “Nord Stream 2”… Will try to clarify the specific amount and timing of financial compensation to Ukraine. Also, politicians will discuss the fight against Ukrainian corruption… “40 billion dollars – about 30% of Ukrainian GDP – is lost due to corruption, maybe more. This is an overpayment for energy, this is under-servicing of Ukrainian hospitals and schools, as well as bribes, ”said US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken recently. Also, the parties may agree on the appointment of an American ambassador in Ukraine, because Kristina Kvin has been working in Kiev for a year and a half in the status of an attorney.
Photo: Izvestia / Dmitry Korotaev
A number of topics will be discussed by politicians behind closed doors. Perhaps, will affect the fate of the oligarch Igor Kolomoisky. “The US suspects that Ukraine is only imitating a fight with the founder of Privatbank. And for Washington, Kolomoisky is a marker testifying to the attitude towards oligarchs in Ukraine in general, ”Ukrainian political scientist Andrey Zolotarev told Izvestia.
The second possible question is judicial reform in Ukraine. The United States is seeking to ensure that foreigners have a decisive vote in the appointment of judges in the country. The Verkhovna Rada in July seems to have approved the relevant laws. According to the adopted documents, international experts will play the main role in the formation of the Ukrainian judicial corps. Foreigners also got access to all documents and information on the holding of personnel competitions. In August, however, the reform stalled – it became known that the High Qualification Commission of Judges (VKKS), which oversees the certification and appointment of Themis’ servants, will not start working in 2021.
Finally, Zelenskiy may try to agree on his nomination for a second term. The next presidential elections in Ukraine will be held in 2023, but information is being discussed on Ukrainian telegram channels, according to which the President’s Office is ready to hold early elections in the fall of 2022. Zelensky himself in a recent interview announced his readiness for a second term. According to him, the list of tasks of the head of state does not fit into one deadline. “I’m not just considering this possibility, to be honest, I want to finish some things,” he said.
What the experts say
Ukrainian political scientist Andrei Zolotarev tells Izvestia that Zelensky will have to make an effort so that Joe Biden does not doze off during the conversation… “During the negotiations, we can talk about the fate of the Ukrainian gas transport system. The US leadership can set a condition: The GTS is transferred to American companies, in exchange, Washington is lobbying for the extension of the contract for the transportation of Russian gas through Ukraine“, – the expert notes. “The most important thing for Zelensky is whether the Americans will agree on his nomination for a second term. If Washington does not support the incumbent president, then the opposition may begin to rock the situation, and the threat of a new Maidan will arise. If the Americans agree, then the protests of a threatening scale will not be achieved, ”adds Zolotarev.
Photo: Press Service of the President of Ukraine / president.gov.ua
Deputy Director of the Institute of CIS Countries Vladimir Zharikhin says that the conversation will be asymmetrical. “Zelensky will ask, Biden will politely refuse. The President of Ukraine will probably try to persuade his interlocutor to do something against Nord Stream 2, to make promises about the imminent admission of Ukraine to NATO. Biden, under plausible pretexts, will refuse. Probably, with half hints, he will let the guest understand that the Ukrainian topic has faded into the background, the main thing is the Afghan crisis. I admit that the US President will advise to reduce the intensity of the struggle with Russia, explain that the US now intends to deal with China more, ”the analyst notes.
source https://pledgetimes.com/new-elections-and-kolomoisky-what-zelensky-and-biden-will-talk-about/
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