It arrived, as always, without warning, but the presence of Volodymyr Zelensky yesterday at the great meeting of European leaders held in Granada was more expected than ever. The Ukrainian leader fears for US support. Europe, too.
“The United States helped Europe, helped us survive” during World War II, “now it is important that Europe does not lower its sails until the storm passes and, instead, we stay united in these uncertain times,” Zelensky claimed to his European partners after referring to the “growing political storm” that hangs over Washington, the existence of “dissenting voices” and the risks that Moscow will regain strength and attack other countries in a few years.
The situation created by the most radical sector of the Republican Party, which has devoured its own leader in the Lower House of Congress and has prevented the approval of military aid of 6,000 million dollars for its country, added to the pre-electoral atmosphere installed in the North American country, predicts difficult times for Western support for Kyiv. The possibility that, in just over a year, Donald Trump will return to the White House and adopt isolationism as a flag in the current context causes chills in Brussels and Kyiv.
Although he said he has “full confidence” that the support of the United States will not waver, Europe “must be prepared,” Zelensky insisted at the beginning of the meeting of the European Political Community held yesterday in the Andalusian city, with the presence of more than 40 leaders. . The tone of the Ukrainian president, who showed visible signs of fatigue, was more urgent than ever when he warned his European allies of the “dangerous moment” in which the war is and asked them not to underestimate the threat that Vladimir Putin poses to the rest of the continent.
Moscow may be ready to attack other European countries in five years, Zelensky said. “Russia has several scenarios for the coming years, and one of them is particularly disturbing,” he said. If Europe allows the conflict to freeze, the Kremlin will take the opportunity to regain military muscle and in 2028 “will once again have the strength to attack other countries” and continue Russian expansion, Zelensky warned, citing sources from his intelligence services. “We are warning you because Russia is trying to freeze the current situation” on the battlefield, he stressed, insisting on the need for European countries to provide Ukraine with air defense systems.
“No, we are not tired,” said French President Emmanuel Macron. But “we are vigilant about the current situation,” he added, alluding to the US's problems in carrying out the latest aid package for Ukraine. Macron, a voluntarist, proposed taking advantage of the moment so that “Europe takes its full place within NATO.” Because although “American aid is formidable, it cannot replace the mobilization of Europeans.” What is at stake, he stressed, is “security on our continent and our direct neighborhood.” The French president considered that all European countries are “strongly committed” to Ukraine and openly attributed the decision of the Polish Government to suspend the shipment of weapons to the neighboring country to electoral reasons.
The EU's High Representative for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, openly admitted that Europe does not have the capacity to replace the United States in its support for Ukraine either on a military or economic level. “My hope, that of Ukraine and that of the entire world that does not want Vladimir Putin to win this war, is that we must find ways for the United States to continue supporting Ukraine,” but “Europe, certainly, cannot replace the United States.” ", said. “We have done a lot and we are going to do more, but the US is essential in supporting Ukraine,” he said.
The challenge is not just military aid. The EU has put proposals on the table to set aside €50 billion over the next four years in macro-financial aid to Kyiv and €20 billion for military aid, but Hungary is reluctant to give the green light to these plans and it is not clear when or when they will approve. The money will arrive in the country. The same thing happens on the United States side. Despite the assurances expressed by President Joe Biden this week to several European leaders about the strength of American support, it is currently unclear when he will be able to mobilize the promised aid.
