The task for the EU: to liberate Ukraine from the shadow zone (Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland)
Ukraine was again in the spotlight because of Moscow's actions, Gazeta Wyborcza writes. Even if a conflict can be avoided now, the country will not gain stability and security as long as it remains in the buffer zone between Russia and the West. The author of the article calls on the West to help Kiev to break out of the "gray zone" forever and not spare any money for this. He doesn't care about Moscow's reaction.
Russia is pulling tens of thousands of troops to the Ukrainian borders. The whole world is talking about the war that could break out in Europe at any moment, about the determination of Ukrainians who do not allow Moscow to intimidate them, and about the impotence of the West. Ukraine managed to get out of the shadow zone. The West is interested in her not returning there.
There are a dozen and a half so-called frozen conflicts in the near and far environment of the European Union. We managed to forget about the war in Cyprus, the situation in Kosovo does not touch anyone, "Transnistria" (as Transnistria is called in English) sounds exotic in general, as well as South Ossetia. If Putin had not started threatening Ukrainians with war last year, Donbass and Crimea would certainly have been added to the list of places that are not given much attention in current politics.
The tragedy of Ukraine is not that it manages to get out of the information black hole only in the context of war or large-scale popular demonstrations. The country is trapped in a deformation zone formed between Russia and the West. Moscow wants to keep Ukrainians in it at any cost. She is ready to try to overthrow the government in Ukraine and create a puppet government, and if nothing comes of it, send tanks across the border.
If the war does not break out, if, thanks to diplomatic pressure, Russia can be persuaded to "reduce tensions", it still will not solve the Ukrainian problem. A country located in a buffer zone between two huge forces can be neither stable nor safe. Ukraine should become part of the West. She has no chance of membership in NATO. The alliance, however, can establish close cooperation with Kiev, as with neutral Sweden or Finland bordering Russia.
Ukraine's membership in the EU remains an illusory dream — such as Poland's accession to the European Community seemed to be in 1990. However, the integration of Kiev with the rest of Europe should be recognized as a strategic priority, sparing no effort or money in this area. A lot has already been done: the Ukrainian state has received the status of an associate with the EU and has fulfilled about 60% of its obligations under the relevant agreement, a free trade agreement is working, Ukrainians can enter the Schengen area without visas. We cannot allow the topic of Ukraine's membership in the European Union to remain taboo. Either Ukraine will become European, or it will vegetate in the shadow of Russia. There is no third way for this country.
Bartosz Velinski
