Ukraine’s attack on an Iranian ship in the Caspian Sea could mark an important turning point in its conflict with Russia, as opinion in the White House appears to be tilting increasingly in favor of Kyiv and President Volodymyr Zelensky.
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The Ukrainians said they struck the ship because it was heading to Russia with a shipment of weapons.
This event is a significant development, argues Georges Mercier, analyst and doctoral student in political science at Science Po Paris, because this gesture can fuel the Ukrainians’ ambition to get closer to the West, NATO and more specifically the United States.
“The signal that the Ukrainians are sending to the White House is: ‘Look, while your European allies are not helping you more than necessary in your conflict against Iran, we, the Ukrainians, can potentially help you,’” explained the political analyst in an interview with LCN.
Since the start of the conflict with Iran, American forces have concentrated their attacks in the south of the country, neglecting the north which is connected to Russia by the Caspian Sea.
“If, in the long term, the Ukrainians began to attack this export channel, it would increase the economic pressure on the regime in Tehran […]which would partly satisfy an American ambition,” maintains Georges Mercier.
Additionally, Iran and Russia have a security partnership that can harm Americans, since the two countries notably share weapons and information that can help Tehran target American bases in the Middle East.
“So, Ukraine has just sent a strong signal which is likely to be well received by the White House,” summarizes the political analyst.
MAGA influencer goes pro-Ukraine
Over the past few days, influencer Laura Loomer, a proud supporter of Donald Trump who has campaigned for years for the United States to stop supporting Ukraine against Russia, has made a 180-degree turn.
The 33-year-old woman revealed that she changed her mind after traveling to Ukraine and seeing the horror of war, then speaking with Volodymyr Zelensky.
The influencer associated with the MAGA movement admitted to having swallowed Russian propaganda for a long time, but assures that she is now behind Ukraine.
However, Laura Loomer is not only popular with the MAGA movement, but her most recent outing was even shared by the American president.
“She would have succeeded in getting Donald Trump to fire a senior American official. So she is someone who is not insignificant compared to Donald Trump,” mentions the doctoral student in political science.
“We have signs in recent weeks that the posture of the White House is changing a little because the Ukrainians are presenting themselves more and more as winners and we know that Donald Trump is certainly attracted to winners,” he adds.
Washington recently raised the possibility of allowing Ukraine to produce interceptors Patriotin addition to working on tougher sanctions targeting Russia.
“The cup is not yet in the lips for the Ukrainians, but if in the entourage of the president, you have people who influence him, who themselves change their tune in relation to Ukraine, it is a good thing from the Ukrainian perspective, it could consolidate his support”, underlines Georges Mercier.
“Since Trump’s return to the White House, the context has never been so favorable to the interests of the Ukrainians,” he adds.
