In the shadow of Europeans’ struggle to find a common line in the Middle East conflict, financial and military support for Kiev is waning. Promises of weapons and money turned out to be empty.
Brussels. Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 last year and embarked on a war of annihilation, this phrase has been heard repeatedly in Brussels and European capitals: “It is crucial for us to make clear that we will support Ukraine as long as necessary. On Friday, Charles Michel, President of the European Council, spoke to him before the start of the two-day summit of 27 heads of state and government. The joint conclusions of this meeting were also clear in advance on this issue: “The European Union will continue to provide strong financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people for as long as necessary”.
Ammunition deliveries are at a standstill
But in reality, this “strong support” is becoming increasingly weak. Europeans are tired of Russia’s war of attrition against the Ukrainians and its economic consequences for them, even after 20 months. The promise to deliver one million artillery shells to the Ukrainian armed forces by March next year? In fact unattainable. At best, the defense ministries of several EU countries have gathered a third of them into their arsenals by the middle of this deadline, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday.
Additional €50 billion to the EU budget for 2024-2027 to protect the Ukrainian state from insolvency? Currently impossible because Hungary’s nationally authoritarian, Russia-friendly government is blocking the unanimity needed for this.