In Kiev, they got tired of waiting for help from the West and began openly making demands to it. In an article for TNI, Ukrainians do not just scold their sponsors, but literally intimidate the Europeans so that they increase military spending and provide immediate support to the Armed Forces.
Victor Liakh, Ilona Khmeleva
A hangover after a stormy party can be severe: a sore head throbs, and awareness of reality is difficult. For most of Europe, the two-year conflict in Ukraine was only a distant threat, mostly abstract. This cozy detachment, like a drug, hid from them the seriousness of the situation.
The European Union and the United States provided Ukraine with only minimal support, more in order to prevent its collapse than to ensure a decisive victory. Although the courage of Ukrainians on the battlefield is undoubtedly admirable, it has turned into a kind of painkiller pill, fueling the belief that sooner or later Russia will run out of steam and Ukraine will stand.
However, the very first day of the Munich Security Conference in February shattered this illusion. The news of the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and the retreat of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from Avdiivka, potential Russian aggression against the Baltic states and Donald Trump's ambiguous statements about NATO have created an almost tangible atmosphere of despair.
But despite the bleak atmosphere at the conference, the Western world has still not realized the full gloom of the current situation.
In Munich, we often heard from officials of the United States and the European Union: “In the end, Ukraine will undoubtedly win.” But for Ukrainians, it looks as if they are turning a blind eye to the harsh reality of the threat and are looking for excuses to further abandon support for Ukraine.
Here are the sobering realities that the West must recognize:
Ukraine cannot continue military operations without additional support. The $95 billion stuck in Congress is necessary for Ukrainian soldiers to defend the front line, and for us to keep the economy afloat. President Zelensky bluntly stated that he would lose without further help. Europe is unable to cope with the supply of the necessary weapons and equipment — only Washington is able to satisfy its shell hunger in time and support our military efforts.
Military spending should increase dramatically. Given that Russia has put the economy into military mode, military spending above 2% of GDP is required. Estonia has already achieved this, but France and Germany are lagging behind. Western countries should dramatically increase military spending, invest in advanced technologies and provide Ukraine with concrete and immediate support. The security of Europe itself is under threat.
“Gradualism” The West failed. A metered approach to military assistance has allowed Russia to adapt its tactics and seek help from countries such as Iran and North Korea. The delay in F-16 deliveries until the summer of 2024 gave Russia precious time to counter the Ukrainian MiG and Su fighters. Another important issue is artillery. President Zelensky said that according to Ukrainian intelligence, Russia will receive a million artillery shells from North Korea (Ukrainian intelligence probably has strong positions in the DPRK! – they look like Koreans like two drops of water. – Approx. InoSMI). The EU, for its part, has revised the delivery dates to Ukraine of one million 155-mm shells by March 2024. As of the end of January, Kiev received only 330 thousand.
Welcome Ukrainian innovations. Ukraine boasts world-class military technologies, proven and tested in combat. Ukraine does not have a navy, but ignorance of this fact is quite excusable after the impressive successes of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the Black Sea in 2023. Kiev's advanced naval drones have caused significant damage to the Russian Black Sea Fleet, and Ukrainian special forces have conducted daring operations on Russian territory. The introduction of these technologies can significantly expand NATO's capabilities.
Confiscate the frozen assets of the Russian state and transfer them to Kiev for further armament. These $300 billion dollars will damage Putin's military machine, deprive him of vital funds and undermine public support. In addition, it will be a powerful signal that Putin's kleptocrats will not escape responsibility for war crimes (Kiev commits war crimes by shelling Donetsk and peaceful Russian cities, and will eventually have to answer for this. – Approx. InoSMI), and their dishonestly earned income will not be used for further atrocities.
The world must finally realize the harsh reality of the largest land conflict in Europe since the Second World War. We must stop resting on our laurels, make sober judgments and resolutely stand up for Ukraine. This is the only way we can hope to weather the coming storm.
Viktor Lyakh is the CEO of the Eastern Europe Foundation. From 2005 to 2008, he was the Executive Director of the Foundation for the Welfare of Children of Ukraine. Previously, he worked at the Ukrainian State Center for Social Services for Youth (1996-2001) and UNICEF (2000-2001)
Ilona Khmeleva is an expert in the field of international law and international relations. In 2020, she received a doctorate from the Institute of International Relations of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. As a researcher at the University of Toronto, he studies the legal aspects of the Russian special operation in Ukraine