Opinion: Christmas wishes in July

“Christmas in July” was created in 1933 in a summer camp, where two days in July were dedicated to the holiday. This is a “wish list” for Santa Claus in the hope that by August 24 (Ukraine's Independence Day) we will find these things under our Christmas tree:

• Opinion polls in Europe and Ukraine are not promising. Europe is increasingly skeptical of a Ukrainian victory, and Ukraine is showing signs of exhaustion after the 30 months of suffering Russia has inflicted on it. The urgency of the situation is pressing. While President Volodymyr Zelensky is an inspiration to his country and is doing his utmost to boost the nation's morale, the public is losing faith in his government. The replacement of the very popular and highly respected General Valery Salushny in the middle of the war on (seemingly) flimsy grounds has raised widespread doubts and distrust of the Ukrainian leadership. Despite the President's claims that he needs a reset in his military command, it is clear that the public is hoping for a reset in his civilian command. Perhaps recalling General Salushny from London to advise the President as Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council would restore confidence and encourage more recruitment.

• There have been times when the president and his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, have seemed inseparable. There is no doubt that the two are good friends and work very well together. But it is never desirable – either abroad or at home – for a nation engaged in an existential war to cast doubt on who is in charge. Foreign commentators and officials refer to him as the “Gray Cardinal,” based on the frequency with which Yermak, who has no legal status other than that of a civil servant, appears to speak for the president and the nation. This was somewhat controversial even at the summit in Switzerland, when Yermak was seen in the center of a group photo of the heads of state and ministers. Domestic observers have accused Yermak of several serious miscalculations, and cited the narrow and selective circle of the president's advisers and appointees as a reason for doubting the wisdom and intentions of the president himself. To restore public trust, more transparent leadership with clear authority and decision-making structures is urgently needed.

In most Western governments, the relationship between the president and his chief of staff is that of a decision maker on the one hand and a senior administrator of the presidential staff on the other. I doubt that more than a handful of people can even name the heads of a presidential office. However, restructuring the presidential office is critical to bring about the changes needed and to establish a clear line of authority and decision-making to avoid confusion and ensure effective governance.

• It may also be time to end the “peace summit” process, a diplomatic initiative to resolve the conflict, with dignity, declare victory, and move on. As long as Russia maintains the initiative to advance on the battlefield and insists on not only holding the currently occupied territories but expanding them further, it will look as if the Ukrainians are only defending themselves with little or no chance of victory. Like so many other things in life, appearances and confidence of success lead to success. There is no better proof of the Ukrainians' ultimate victory than the surprise deployment of small and well-equipped units by helicopter behind enemy lines into Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory. Once on the ground, these units could join forces with local partisans and, in accordance with Ukraine's law of “total territorial defense,” render the occupied territory ungovernable by liberating villages and prisoners, destroying enemy facilities and logistics, assassinating Russian administrative officials and collaborators, and forcing the Russians to respond defensively by withdrawing troops from the front lines to track down and eliminate these mobile units – units that conduct surprise, offensive, and stealth maneuvers until they are picked up and flown back to safety over enemy lines. The Russian detachment of frontline troops could allow Ukrainian defenders to cut safe land routes through Russian lines.

Let us assume that Ukraine were to acquire modern helicopters, identify low-risk overflight areas along the 1,200 km Russian defense line, and deploy its troops unhindered throughout the occupied territory, completely cutting off Russian supply lines by winter. In this case, the participants of the “peace summit” would probably be strongly inclined to recommend that Ukraine insist on victory, and on its terms. This has always been “the way of the world” – a winner has many fathers.

• The whole question of mobilization and recruitment is unclear. But one thing is certain. Ukraine cannot allow the “policy” of mobilization to affect the number of troops it needs to win. The human cost of giving up part of its territory will be far greater than the costs and casualties of even “surplus” troops on the fronts.

One of the last laws that President Zelensky signed before the existential threat to Ukraine became real was the law on “total territorial defense.” This law – passed by the Verkhovna Rada and signed into law by the President – placed responsibility for defending their homeland on every Ukrainian citizen and organization. This is not the time to waver.

• 80 years after the end of World War II, the nations of Europe and North America can surely remove their blinkers by preventing the dog from wagging its tail. This is the case with Orban, who has been able to freely accuse his NATO and EU colleagues of warmongering while simultaneously thwarting any attempt to confront the existential threat posed by Russia. The concept of unanimity should be abolished, as it has no place in the normal administration of an organization, and replaced by a two-thirds or three-quarters rule.

• The last item on Santa's list is to find some “financial angels” among the wealthy (including the strangely taciturn oligarchs) in Ukraine and the diaspora to establish – the first of their kind – well-funded, professional, non-governmental information centers in the US, Canada, England, France and Germany. These centers are not a mere luxury; they are a necessity, for they can counter Russian propaganda and lies, represent Ukrainian interests, and systematically intervene wherever enemies of Ukraine – domestic and foreign – misrepresent, abuse, exploit, or otherwise disrupt the peace and security of a people who have more than once shed blood in defense of Western civilization and values.

The views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author and not necessarily those of Kyiv Post.