The David Hunter Perspective - 2022-04-27

Read on for today's agenda below prepared by David (thank you very much). - Retired US Diplomat to 5 different nations  David Hunter shares his knowledge, passion, interest, and experience.

1)  Emmanual Macron just won re-election as President of France:  A moderate centrist, he faced a tough battle against far-right candidate Marine LePen, who won 41 percent of the French voters.  What does this say about far-right movements in Europe? Is this the end or the beginning?  What about her close ties to Putin?

2)  US Secretary of State Tony Blinken Visits Kiev:   On Sunday, April 24th, Mr. Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin visited Kiev, Ukraine, to meet personally with President Zelensky.  This was the first high level US visit to set foot inside Ukraine since the Russian invasion in late February.  Boris Johnson  PM of England  openly walked the streets of Kiev a few weeks ago.  Are American officials afraid of Putin?   

3) Can the Russian Disinformation get any Crazier?:  Putin is now openly accusing the US CIA of plotting  to attack and murder a Jewish Russian journalist.  He claims the Russian  intelligence service (the FSB) intercepted 'neo-Nazis' who were working under CIA and Ukraine intelligence service (SBU) direction in planning this attack.  It that disinformation?

4)  US Will Re-Open US Embassy in Kiev:  During Secretary of State Blinkin's semi-secret visit to Kiev last Sunday, he announced the US Embassy would reopen.  Since then, plans have emerged to have US diplomats now evacuated to Poland start doing 'day trips' to Lviv, and slowly try to reopen the Embassy in Kiev.  What is the significance of this move? 

5)  Biden Nominates a US Ambassador to Ukraine:  Despite the many important bilateral tasks  of US and Ukraine, we have not had a senior  Ambassador ranked official, in our Embassy in Kiev for several years.  Does this reflect on how we feel about Ukraine, or is it just  poor Government staffing?  Who has been picked? 

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