Pity poor old Vlodymyr Zelenskyy, at least in this one respect: Whatever your views about the war his country is engaged in, or how that war should or will end, or whatever your views about western support for his country are, we should all have the good grace to recognise that he’s had to put up with himself, and his capital city, becoming a prop for western politicians.
The pilgrimage to Kiev is fast becoming an annual “must have” for the embattled western leader. Going, you sense, is less about supporting Ukraine than it is about associating themselves with a popular and well-known international cause, and about elevating themselves by standing alongside, as an equal, with an internationally popular wartime leader.
In that respect, Leo Varadkar hit all the bases yesterday:
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said 'Russia cannot be allowed to succeed' in its invasion of Ukraine. He was speaking following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelensky during an unannounced visit to Kyiv | Read more: https://t.co/EkBZUul8UL pic.twitter.com/33kwcOwOGS
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) July 19, 2023
For Varadkar to stand in Kiev and say “Russia must not be allowed to succeed” is practically the definition of empty pablum, for the straightforwardly simple reason that there is absolutely nothing in Varadkar’s power, and which Varadkar is willing to do, to stop Russia from succeeding in Ukraine. The things that he has done – taking in refugees – might be worthy, but the absence of Ukrainians in Ukraine does not impact Russia’s success on the front. And the one thing he could do that might impact Russia’s success – sending weapons – is a thing he is unwilling to do.
So, when he says “Russia must not be allowed to succeed” what he means is “other countries must not allow Russia to succeed”. Not little old Ireland, which wouldn’t dream of getting its hands dirty to prevent the thing he says must be prevented.
For the Ukrainians, the upside of the visit is clear, but very limited: From day one, the Ukrainian approach has been to turn their war into a global conflict. Not in the sense, to be clear, of starting a world war. But in the sense of convincing the Ukrainian people that the world stands with them in their fight, and in the sense of creating in western voters a sense of moral obligation to come to Ukraine’s aid. By and large, this strategy has worked. The only downside to it is that it has, on the flip side, allowed a lot of politicians from countries that are doing very little to help pose to their public as stalwart defenders of Ukraine.
There are obvious questions for Varadkar, and the Irish Government, on foot of his statement about stopping Russia. Does he, for example, believe that Ukraine should be admitted to the European Union? Does he believe that the European Union as a whole should send more weapons to Ukraine, and if so, why are Irish weapons exempt? Is it still the case that Ireland will accept as many Ukrainians as wish to live here, indefinitely? What measures is Ireland taking to monitor the flow of Russian money through Dublin? What lobbying, if any, is Ireland doing with the United States, or the UK, or other countries, to secure more funding and weaponry for Ukraine?
In any case, all of these statements could have been made, and those questions posed, at home. The trip to Kiev was a publicity trip – and not one intended to benefit the Ukrainians. I am not convinced, for one moment, that Varadkar’s visit will be front page news amongst the soldiers on the front lines on the Dnieper river. Yet it’s headline news here: So, Cui Bono?
The Ukrainians, for my money, deserve better treatment than this: Their fight for survival should not be treated as a photocall. And yet that’s exactly what this was.