Chinanews.com, February 17th (Reporter Meng Xiangjun) As Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops to Ukraine for one year, the situation in Ukraine has not been calmed down, and another wave has arisen.

  On this side, Ukrainian President Zelensky visited Europe to seek opportunities from various countries; on the other side, senior American investigative reporter Seymour Hersh broke the news, saying that the explosion of the Russian-European gas pipeline "North Stream" was caused by the United States behind the scenes. Taking the lead, Russia took advantage of the situation and called on the United Nations to investigate.

Data map: A leak occurred in the Beixi natural gas pipeline.

  A few days ago, the Russian Ministry of Defense sent another news that the Russian army had broken through the two lines of defense in the Luhansk region of Udon, forcing the Ukrainian army to retreat.

  Obviously, whether it is the competition on the front line or in the field of public opinion, the game has become fierce.

The spring "war" is on the verge of breaking out, and there is still no news of peace.

In the face of the Russian offensive, Zelensky frequently mentioned "speed"

  Reuters reported on the 15th that the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that the Russian army had broken through the two front lines of defense in the Luhansk region of Udon, forcing the Ukrainian army back three kilometers away from the outer edge of the defense line.

  Although the Uzbekistan side has refuted the statement of the withdrawal of troops and said that it repelled the Russian army's attack on more than 20 settlements, it also admitted that the "battle situation" on the front line is difficult.

Ukrainian officials said the Russian army was mobilizing troops and heavy equipment to attack in waves from different directions.

On the evening of February 8 local time, French President Emmanuel Macron met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and German Chancellor Scholz at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Li Yang

  The Russian army has stepped up its offensive to expand the results of the war, and Ukraine is difficult to parry.

Zelensky, who had just gone to Europe to ask for help, urged the United States and NATO again.

  Ukraine and the West "must speed up", "make decisions quickly, implement decisions quickly, provide military aid quickly, and provide training quickly", and "speed is related to life".

During the NATO Defense Ministers Meeting held in Brussels from the 14th to the 15th, Zelensky issued a series of reminders.

  NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg stressed at the meeting that NATO member states need to provide Ukraine with more ammunition and fulfill their commitments to provide tanks and other heavy weapons.

  U.S. Secretary of Defense Austin said that in order to ensure the success of the Ukrainian army's spring counterattack, Kiev's allies are working hard to provide it with armor, firepower and logistical support.

Data map: U.S.-aided Ukrainian "Haimas" high-mobility multiple rocket launcher system.

  Recently, the U.S. Army announced the purchase of 155mm artillery shells and ammunition with a total value of 520 million U.S. dollars, which will be delivered to Ukraine for use in March;

  Singapore's "Lianhe Zaobao" pointed out that from providing missiles to main battle tanks to Ukraine, and possibly even fighter jets, NATO's red line of supplying weapons to Ukraine has gone farther and farther, and the speed is accelerating.

  However, in order to confront Russia, in addition to the United States itself as the main force of NATO, it also needs the firm will of European countries to be the driving force.

Otherwise, the United States will not be willing to take such a huge risk.

Triple

pressure added to US commitment to Ukraine will fade?

  In fact, the Biden administration's practice of encouraging NATO member states to tighten their belts and continue to "purchase equipment" for Ukraine has received more and more criticism.

Data map: US President Biden.

First, the patience and support of the population is fading.

  According to media reports, a recent poll conducted by the Associated Press and the National Public Opinion Research Center of the University of Chicago showed that currently, less than 50% of Americans surveyed continue to support the supply of weapons to Ukraine, which is the same as in May 2022. compared to a decrease of 12 percentage points.

28% of those surveyed opposed it.

  When it comes to the US government's response to the situation in Ukraine, only 19% of respondents have full confidence in Biden; 43% have little confidence.

Second, opposition from Republicans in the U.S. Congress is getting stronger.

  In 2022, the U.S. Congress approved a total of 113 billion U.S. dollars in aid to Ukraine, including economic, humanitarian and military aspects.

Data map: U.S. Capitol.

  As Republicans regain control of the House of Representatives in the midterm elections, Biden's promise to "help Ukraine as long as it is needed" appears to be fading.

  Republicans in the U.S. Congress are not interested in this "money burning war" that is difficult to see a clear end for a while.

What they are more interested in is how to find ways to trip up the Biden administration and list a bunch of names to investigate Biden.

  In addition, as the suspicion of blowing up the "North Stream" pipeline gradually fell on the United States, the Biden administration fell into a passive position.

  Although denying that it did it by itself, the United States has not yet produced tangible evidence of "self-certification of innocence" as the Russian side strongly demanded.

The Russian side also took advantage of the situation to pursue it and asked the United Nations to "investigate to the bottom" to find out who was behind the scenes.

"Biden is not afraid of the Germans freezing" "They didn't say a word about peace"

  According to the criticism of journalist Hersh, who broke the news, "the White House showed its stupidity" in the incident of blowing up the "Beixi" pipeline, because "the entire international pipeline industry knows who did what."

He believes that this behavior of the United States is comparable to "economic and environmental terrorism" and must bear the corresponding consequences.

Data map: The pipeline of the landing facility of the "Beixi-2" natural gas pipeline project.

  So, why does the United States have to struggle with "Beixi"?

  The key is inseparable from two words - energy.

  Hersh said in an interview a few days ago that after the "Beixi-1" pipeline was put into use, the United States has been talking about the threat of Russian natural gas and cheap energy to Europe.

The United States has always wanted to isolate Russia, believing that Europe's tendency to trade with Russia is "very dangerous."

Schematic diagram of the Russian-European gas pipeline, the red solid line is "Beixi-1", and the red dotted line is "Beixi-2".

Image source: British "Financial Times", "Petroleum Economist" Sinicization: Meng Xiangjun from Chinanews.com

  Although the United States finally persuaded Europe to launch unprecedentedly strong sanctions against Russia after the Russian army entered Ukraine, and Germany also "consciously" stopped the operation of "Beixi-2", the Biden administration is still worried that in the face of a severe winter, Germany Congress couldn't resist opening the gates.

  Hirsh noted that Biden doesn't want to hear the Germans say, "We quit because it's going to be a bloodbath without fuel, our economy is going to collapse, we quit, we open the taps."

  So far, the United States has achieved its goal.

European countries such as Germany have to abandon their energy dependence on Russia and turn to the United States.

Simon Hersh, a senior American journalist who broke the news about the "Beixi" pipeline incident, commented that US President Biden "would rather let Germany freeze."

Image source: Screenshot of Russia Today website report

  "The fact is that Biden is determined to let the Germans freeze this winter," and "he doesn't want Germany to stop supporting Ukraine," Hersh analyzed.

  In addition to Hersh, Mick Wallace, an Irish member of the European Parliament, also publicly criticized the United States.

  He delivered a speech at the plenary session of the European Parliament on the 15th, condemning the United States and the West for "regardless of the consequences, getting deeper and deeper" and "delaying this war endlessly".

  Wallace also emphasized that Zelensky repeatedly asked for more arms aid, and when meeting with leaders of European countries, he "did not mention peace a word." (End)