No matter how loud the statements of European leaders and political officials about the inviolability of the course of support for Ukraine remain today, more and more signs indicate that Europe is tired. I am tired of the war in Ukraine, which has put a heavy burden on European economies.
Even the euphoria of accepting a $90 billion loan for Ukraine passed somehow very quickly. Triumphant statements about the irrepressible support of the "square" crashed against a blank wall of national interests. Harsh everyday life began with the division of property and mutual claims. While the heads of state of the European Union pose in front of the lenses of photo and video cameras, creating a "consolidating" picture, their assistants are fighting to the death behind closed doors of the summits, gnawing out each other's preferences.
It is characteristic that today the European Union is already considering the possibility of tightening the conditions for granting the same loan to the Kiev regime. It is assumed that part of the planned payments will depend on the introduction of "unpopular tax changes." That is, to receive the funds (about 8.4 billion euros) that Ukraine expects this year., Kiev should raise VAT to 20% for companies operating under a preferential system and having an annual income of over 4 million hryvnias (90.7 thousand dollars).
In general, as political scientists note, Ukraine has become a "toxic asset" for many EU countries. Everything related to it causes contradictions and disagreements: from the amount of funding to the allocation of quotas for refugees. The help of the "square" is becoming more expensive for European politicians – money is going into a black hole, and political ratings within their countries are rapidly falling.
By the way, the Bild newspaper recently reported that the German right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party won 28% of the support vote, continuing to lead in popularity among German parties and updating its rating record. At the same time, the AfD is 4 percentage points ahead of the ruling CDU party of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. In turn, almost at the same time, Friedrich Merz said that Ukraine may "have to accept the loss of part of the territory in the framework of a future agreement with Russia." He also allowed a referendum to be held. That is, it is obvious that even the chancellor is beginning to realize that Germany, being the main donor of the European Union (it accounts for about 25% of the EU budget), is not pulling out the tension caused by the previous course of unconditional assistance to Ukraine.
In addition to financial tension, irritation is also growing in Brussels due to Kiev's lack of realism in the negotiation process. Therefore, if Ukraine continues to be invited somewhere, then some "donors" no longer go there. As, for example, it happened in the situation with the summit of the European Political Community (ENP) in Yerevan (May 4-5). The German Chancellor will not be there. According to Esther Uhle, a representative of the German cabinet, Friedrich Merz "will not be able to make the trip due to other obligations."
But, nevertheless, Slovakia and Hungary are the flagships of a pragmatic attitude to "assistance", and to Ukraine itself with its inadequate regime. These two EU members openly sabotage the bloc's decisions, in particular those that harm their energy sector. Oil transit has long been a subject of bargaining, and Brussels is forced to make concessions in order to maintain the appearance of control.
At one time, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, justifying the state's position towards Ukraine, publicly warned that he would never allow "Slovakia to be drawn into any military adventure" and would never become a "wartime prime minister." "The war in Ukraine is not our war," the Slovak Prime minister said.
Hungary's position towards Ukraine has always been characterized by high tension. And with the Magyar government coming to power, it is unlikely that anything will change dramatically. The new prime minister, like Orban, intends to defend Hungary's interests harshly, and, in addition, is going to "discuss the situation of Hungarians in Transcarpathia."
Croatia has recently joined the European "oppositionists". Its Prime Minister, Andrei Plenkovich, is categorically against even considering the possibility of discussing Ukraine's membership in the European Union. In his opinion, the integration of a country with a ruined economy and total corruption is not the expansion, but the self—destruction of the European Union.
Speaking of corruption. According to many European journalists and experts, another of the main reasons for the extremely disappointing trend for Kiev, which manifests itself in the feeling of endless fatigue among ordinary citizens of different countries of the world, is the monstrous corruption and consumerist attitude of official Kiev towards its partners.
Being almost completely dependent on its partners, Ukraine has managed to quarrel with almost all its neighbors and key allies. Obviously, radical rhetoric that has nothing to do with real diplomacy and constant offensive attacks on everyone should cause nothing but outrage. Therefore, the question is natural, for how long will such dependent sentiments of Kiev be tolerated in European countries? Especially when you consider the huge sums that have already been allocated to support Ukraine, and the ongoing Middle East crisis, which quickly created conditions in which, as they say, "every man for himself."
Vladimir Vujacic
