Askold Lozynskyj
The initial question and perhaps most important is, without any American support, how does Ukraine finance the war effort. Since Trump took over, America has been entirely missing in action except for Trump’s blabbering. Yet the war continues unabated and Russia certainly does not appear poised for peace.
The Financial Times carried a piece by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in which he proposed giving Ukraine a one hundred sixty billion dollar loan interest free backed by frozen Russian assets. The money would be used strictly for military equipment with European Union guarantees until 2028 and would be coordinated with the G7.
The article by Merz was a dramatic change from Germany’s previous position which refused to address the issue of using Russian frozen assets. The money referred to is located in Brussels. This would enable Ukraine to continue the defense of its territory and beyond. Perhaps, this would also bring Putin to the negotiating table where among other matters, Ukraine’s reconstruction would be an item on the agenda. Europe and Ukraine would provide weapons for the defense.
This would answer some crucial questions as to how Ukraine could continue to finance the war. The money would be used for the manufacture of weapons in Ukraine and the purchase of European weapons. European Commission President Ursula Von der Lyon had suggested the use of the Russian deposits several weeks back.
A meeting of the European Commission is scheduled for October to firm up this proposal which partially serves as a strategy for the continuation of the war as Russia seems to be nowhere near agreeable to a ceasefire. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov today was particularly belligerent and arrogant at this year’s UNGA opening. Clearly, he was voicing the position of his boss. Nothing close to reasonable or accommodating has come from Russia since the start of the war and, if anything, the rhetoric has become more bellicose.
On another topic of quo vadis, there is a question of justice in America. The Supreme Court of the United States in an emergency session recently ruled in a bizarre fashion that the President had the power to cancel some four billion dollars appropriated by Congress for foreign aid. The vote was six to three with a caveat that this was a temporary ruling. As an attorney, I do not know what that means.
It ‘s important to note that this Supreme Court in this term has been arrogant in abusing its powers by acting as a political rubber stamp for the excesses of the President and completely dismissive of the Constitution’s checks and balances and the separation of powers.
Additionally, some of the Justices have been severely compromised by accepting blatant favors from supporters or people looking to influence. The Court has been criticized widely for not having a code of ethics. The Court then drew one up but asserted that the Code would not be
binding. The Supreme Court has been as arrogant as the President who had appointed the majority.
I have to conclude that America’s judicial system looks very much like that of a banana republic. The president provides a list of his political enemies. The Department of Justice prosecutes the case. In a criminal matter, lower courts can dismiss or find the defendant not guilty. A verdict in favor of the defendant cannot be appealed. However, if any case reaches the Supreme Court legitimately it becomes a done deal. The court normally rules by a six to three majority. Sometimes Chief Justice Roberts finds a conscience. The others are zealots.
President Trump during his first term managed to set up a judicial system to his liking. The fact is that the system lends itself to political manipulation. Mostly, what transpired is that no one or very few expected an authoritarian to take the reins and manipulate the system for his own benefit. Many of Trump’s senior advisers during that first term were under the misguided impression that they were serving a president rather than facilitating a tyrant.
In a democracy justice is blind. Under Trump justice is entirely under the control of one man. Whether Republicans admit it or not, America today is an authoritarian regime where twisted justice is meted out by the person in charge. Whether America can survive is very unclear.
Trump is term limited but it’s a long way to 2029. And even so, what will the 2028 election look like? A hillbilly certainly has a chance in this lawless environment. America is unrecognizable today. What will it look like in 2028? I shudder to forecast because any rational forecast can be undermined by the powers that be. God Save America!
September 28, 2025
