Zelensky team plans global Russian-language television network

The Presidential Office of Ukraine will work to launch
a state-owned Russian-language news channel to offer information from Ukraine’s
perspective on events, deputy head Kyrylo Tymoshenko said in an interview
published by Interfax-Ukraine on July 29. The channel will be aimed at
“fighting for the minds of Ukrainians on the occupied territories of Donbas and
Crimea, and the minds of Russians on the territory of the Russian Federation,”
he said. The state-owned channel would draw content from private sources as
well, he said.

The U.S. government is actively working with newly
elected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his team, U.S. Secretary of
State Mike Pompeo said in an interview with Voice of America
(Ukrainian.voanews.com) published on July 29. “I have hope that this will lead
to creative ideas on how to resolve problems. The conflict in Ukraine is real
and fighting is continuing,” he said, referring to the war in Donbas and
geopolitical conflict with Russia.

Zenon Zawada: It’s clear
that U.S. foreign policy officials, including U.S. Special Envoy Kurt Volker,
have seen an opportunity with the Zelensky administration to promote globalist,
neoliberal ideas and values among Russian speakers throughout the world,
particularly in Russia. The triumph of Zelensky, and his loyal People’s Servant
party, in this year’s elections over overtly Putin-aligned forces signaled that
Ukraine’s southeastern population – which is almost exclusively
Russian-speaking – nonetheless prefers Western values and ideas over the
authoritarianism and traditionalism being advanced by Russian President Putin
and his Russian World concept. This is a major gain for Western authorities
after the Russia-oriented Party of Regions dominated the southeast’s political
scene for more than a decade.

Now Western authorities plan to use the Zelensky
administration – and any success it has in promoting rule of law, free markets
and trade, and liberal social policies in Ukraine – as an example for Russians
to follow. Launching a global Russian-language television network – offering
globalist, neoliberal narratives and perspectives – would be an essential part
of that plan. And mass media is the sphere that Zelensky’s team knows how to do
best.

However, these events and comments don’t
necessarily mean that Zelensky and his team won’t fold to Russian pressure as
the war in Donbas drags on and natural gas supplies might get cut. We are
confident that Zelensky and his key diplomats won’t make any big decisions on
Donbas without consulting U.S. authorities. But it’s possible that a decision
will be made to offer Russian concessions to secure peace in Donbas despite
U.S. objections.