It is also important for the acceptance of further aid by the US public and politicians that Europe takes the lead here.
(Photo: IMAGO/Le Pictorium)
The cruel war in Ukraine is primarily a European affair. Europe must fear Russian imperialism, Europe’s security situation is in jeopardy. It is therefore only logical that, for the first time since the outbreak of war in February, commitments by EU countries and institutions have exceeded those of the US.
The Kiel Institute for the World Economy has calculated that the EU member states have now pledged almost 52 billion euros for military, financial and humanitarian aid. The USA only comes to 48 billion euros.
It is also important for the acceptance of further aid by the US public and politicians that Europe takes the lead here.
It is now important that the promised funds and equipment are delivered quickly and that further aid follows. Despite the recognizable weaknesses of the Russian army and the successes of Ukraine, an end to the war is not in sight. NATO expects the next Russian offensive in the spring.
Top jobs of the day
Find the best jobs now and
be notified by email.
The European countries must be prepared for continued high levels of aid for Ukraine, even if its economy is likely to slide into recession in the coming year.
The aid must be reliable and fast
The EU supports also include the 18 billion euros in financial aid that the EU wants to pay out from next year – and this is exactly where there are still risks. Hungary is currently blocking these funds with a veto. Under no circumstances should the EU allow itself to be blackmailed – and only release more than 13 billion euros in funding for Hungary so that the Eastern European obstructionist only releases the Ukraine funds. However, it must not accept funds being blocked for months either.
If necessary, alternative financing methods such as pre-financing via the European Development Bank or the individual member states must be implemented.
If the international community shows itself open to blackmail, aid to Ukraine will always become a diplomatic pawn in the future. Because the longer the war lasts, the more difficult it will be to implement billions in aid without problems.
It is all the more important that the aid that has already been promised arrives in Ukraine quickly. This applies, for example, to air defense systems, of which far more was promised than delivered. Any of these systems could prevent Russia from deliberately bombing civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. And that goes for all the gear that will enable the people of Ukraine to get through this cold, deadly winter.
More: All developments in the Ukraine war in our live blog