BY
It seems that Yulia Tymoshenko, together with several others of her
Batkivshchyna brand will make an official visit to the US between 29th January
and 4th February.
Presumably
this official visit has been organised by Ms Tymoshenko rather than those
within “The Beltway” or on “The Hill” – particularly as the agenda for the
official visit concern “the way to achieve peace and the restoration of
territorial integrity, stabilization of the political and economic situation in
Ukraine as a part of the security strategy of the European continent and the
global world.”
Additionally
to be discussed are “the steps for
a real fight against corruption for the consolidation of democracy in Ukraine
and the welfare of Ukrainians.”
Well so be
it.
So who is she
going to see?
Apparently “representatives
of legislative and executive authorities of the country, as well as leading
experts on politics, economy and security.” Precisely who
however, is not clear.
Despite the
upheaval within DC no doubt there will be some friends of Ukraine that will
make time for her from among the US legislature – though to be fair just how
welcome she will be is another matter. (It has been more than a decade
since this blog heard particularly hopeful or overly supportive messaging from
the US diplomatic personnel regarding Ms Tymoshenko – other than when she was
incarcerated by Mr Yanukovych).)
Which leading
experts and “experts” on politics, economics and security has she arranged to
see? They are two-a-penny inside The Beltway. Thus the question is
perhaps whether Ms Tymoshenko is seeking guidance perceived as greater in
authority and/or wisdom than that which is freely available from US Embassy
Kyiv – or is she seeking experts and/or “experts” that will fit her existing
political platform and pre-electioneering?
Perhaps most
interesting of all considering a good number of the executive posts within the
new administration remain unfilled at Tier 1, and much more worryingly at Tier
2 (where the work gets done), is who she will meet from that executive branch
of power who will have any influence over issues Ukrainian?
Does the
Trump administration even have a Ukraine policy, and if so, who heads it up in
the US, and are they likely to engage with Ms Tymoshenko before they engage
with the current Ukrainian administration in person?
It may be
more interesting to see who she meets on this official trip, than any
revelations that will come from it. Nevertheless with Ms Tymoshenko
having spent more on US lobbying than the State of Ukraine did in 2014, 2015
and 2016, that money must open a few doors no?
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