Jens Stoltenberg highlighted that Ukraine has already recovered half of the territory that Russia had occupied since February 2022, in statements before a meeting of NATO foreign ministers, Tuesday, in Brussels.
But despite all the official assurances of continued support for Ukraine, there will be NATO members disillusioned with the outcome of Ukraine’s counteroffensive and other leaders are focusing attention on the Israel-Hamas war.
“I don’t see any signs that members feel what they call fatigue. Everyone is worried, everyone recognizes the success of the Ukrainians.”
Joseph Borrell
Head of EU diplomacy
Some analysts consider it plausible that efforts to convince Ukraine to begin negotiations with Russia will increase.
The head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, and Ukraine’s, Dmytro Kuleba, denied this scenario, after their bilateral meeting.
“I don’t see any signs that members feel what they call fatigue. Everyone is worried, everyone recognizes the success of the Ukrainians. I am sure that member states will continue to support Ukraine because it is an existential issue for us. We can’t afford to be tired,” Borrell said.
For his part, Russian President Vladimir Putin also appears to be in no rush to start negotiations. Furthermore, analysts consider that it would be very difficult for the Ukrainian president to accept losing territorial sovereignty, as he demands that the borders be those prior to Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.
“I think that some European countries would accept the exchange of land for peace. This is very complicated, highly political, highly emotional. But President Zelensky himself would be the person who would have to make this decision. But it would also be kind of a treacherous decision,” Judy Dempsey, an analyst at Carnegie Europe, told euronews.
The United States and the European Union are trying to overcome logistical and budgetary obstacles to maintain military aid to Ukraine and maintain their promise to integrate the country into NATO after the war.
Por Maria Psara