Support for Ukraine on the rise: ‘Those idiots on the far right’
The pro-Russian Smar party won Slovak parliamentary elections and the US avoided a shutdown but made tougher deals. “These are not good news for Ukraine,” says Patrick Boulder, a security expert at The Hague Center for Strategic Studies.
Slovakia
While neighboring Slovakia has been one of Ukraine’s biggest supporters, this is likely to change with the victory of the populist Smer party. The party ran against liberal progressive Slovakia during parliamentary elections. Earlier polls had suggested that the party would walk away with a victory, but nothing could be further from the truth.
The Social Democratic Party won votes, among other things, by promising to end arms supplies to the unpopular Ukraine. The party wants to send only humanitarian aid and cancel the international arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin if he wants to come to Slovakia.
‘Robert Figo must form alliances first’
Party leader Robert Figo has already been Slovakia’s prime minister twice. Even then, he saw Russia as a partner and rejected EU sanctions in 2014 after annexing Crimea. Boulder doesn’t see much cause for concern yet. ‘Robert Figo must first form a government and a coalition. If that’s only possible by the far right, you have to wonder how sustainable it is.’
Also Read | Pro-Russian party wins Slovakia election, ‘bad news for EU, NATO and Ukraine’
Boulder points to the fact that it will not be easy for the Samar party to find a majority, as most of the elected parliamentary parties want to continue to supply arms.
America
Emergency funding legislation will remain in effect in the US for the next 45 days, averting a federal government shutdown for the time being. This is Government shutdown He was pushed into the House of Representatives by some conservative Republicans who refused to approve the New Year’s plans.
Also Read | Preventing a shutdown could cost McCarthy his head
Cuts in education, welfare and aid to Ukraine were demanded. “There are majorities in both the House and Congress to continue to provide support, but it’s the idiots on the right within the Republican Party.” However Patrick remains positive, ‘It’s complicated but it doesn’t mean the end of support immediately’.
Follow developments in Ukraine and Russia on our live blog
“Coffee fanatic. Friendly zombie aficionado. Devoted pop culture practitioner. Evil travel advocate. Typical organizer.”