'Europe must not shy away from four harsh truths when facing Russia'
In Ukraine, there is a Russian aggressor and a Ukrainian victim. This fundamental principle must continue to guide Europe. However, resolve cannot come at the expense of realism − and realism dictates that a number of harsh truths must be stated, however unpleasant they may be.
The first is that Ukraine is in danger, both militarily and politically. The second is that seeking the support of Donald Trump is futile, as his only objective is to rid himself of Ukraine and to sideline a Europe he despises. The third is that Europe is neither strong enough nor united enough to support Ukraine on its own. The fourth is that the rest of the world, weary of this war, shows little solidarity with us – especially since, for a long time, European leaders maintained a deafening silence over the tragedy in Gaza, a silence that is only now beginning to break.
One thing is certain: Kyiv can no longer win the war. Despite the heavy losses inflicted on both sides, the front remains both bloody and frozen. The widespread use of drones and the development of electronic warfare have changed the battlefield. The terrain has become entirely transparent – and thus, devastatingly lethal.
The Russians have adapted to the war far better than is often acknowledged. Their mastery of electronic warfare and low-cost tactics gives them a clear advantage. And even though their losses remain immense, their ability to generate fresh forces appears inexhaustible, fueled by the financial incentives provided to soldiers during their service and to their families after their deaths.
A constraining 'geonarcissism'
On the Ukrainian side, the situation is different, as the pool of available personnel is, by definition, smaller. Moreover, the refusal to lower the conscription age below 25 poses real problems that Kyiv underestimates. Desertions are numerous, and too many Ukrainians are leaving the country to avoid the war. Even if they do not say so publicly, Polish leaders believe that Europe subsidizes too many Ukrainian refugees, thus depleting the number of potential fighters.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
39 minutes ago
- France 24
Rivals neck-and-neck ahead of Poland's 'clash of civilisations' vote
Centrist Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, 53, faces off against right-leaning Karol Nawrocki, 42, in a runoff vote some analysts have described as a "clash of civilisations". Latest opinion polls predict a close race, with 50.6 percent of the vote going to Trzaskowski and 49.4 percent to Nawrocki, a tiny difference within the margin of error. A victory for Trzaskowski would be a major boost for Poland's government, which has been in a political deadlock with the current president. It could also mean significant changes such as the introduction of civil partnerships for same-sex couples and an easing of Poland's near-total ban on abortion. A win for Nawrocki, backed by the right-wing Law and Justice Party, could undermine Poland's steadfast support for neighbouring Ukraine against Russia. Nawrocki, an admirer of US President Donald Trump, opposes NATO membership for Kyiv and has called for curbs on benefits for the estimated one million Ukrainian refugees in Poland. Analysts say a Nawrocki victory could also lead to fresh parliamentary elections in the country of 38 million people, which has been one of Europe's best economic performers. Given the narrow polling margins, the result of the election may not be known until Monday. "I would be cautious about popping the champagne on Sunday evening," said Anna Materska-Sosnowska, a political expert. Tens of thousands of supporters took part in rival rallies for both candidates on May 25, a week before the runoff. Counting on turnout At one of his last campaign events, Trzaskowski called for full mobilisation among his supporters, recalling the record turnout of over 74 percent in the 2023 general election that brought the centrists to power. "If participation is as high as in 2023... we will win these presidential elections," Trzaskowski said Friday in the northern town of Chojnice. He said there would be "chaos" with Nawrocki as president. Nawrocki for his part used his last campaign hours to leave flowers at a monument to Poles killed by Ukrainian nationalists during World War II. "It was a genocide against the Polish people," he said, adding: "I will be the president of your future. The past and the future can be reunited." Poland, a staunch Ukraine ally since Russia's invasion, wants Kyiv to admit responsibility for the Volyn massacres, in which around 100,000 Poles died between 1943 and 1945. Far-right voters The election's final result is expected to hinge on whether Trzaskowski can mobilise enough supporters to come out and vote and whether far-right voters will cast their ballots for Nawrocki. Far-right candidates fared better than expected in the first round of the election on May 18, getting more than 21 percent of the vote -- and leaving Nawrocki a larger pool of votes to draw upon. Trzaskowski won that round by a razor-thin margin of 31 percent against 30 percent for Nawrocki. Materska-Sosnowska called the election "a real clash of civilisations", pointing to major policy differences between the candidates on issues including abortion or LGBTQ rights. The job of Polish president is sometimes dismissed as a ceremonial post, but it comes with crucial veto power over legislation. And that has often stymied Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a former European Council chief whose centrist Civic Coalition (KO) has clashed on multiple fronts with conservative President Andrzej Duda since it came to power in 2023. The election campaign saw Nawrocki mired in a few scandals. While arguing against a property tax, he claimed to own just one flat. Later it was revealed he had acquired a second one in a convoluted deal with an elderly man. A bombshell news report also alleged he had arranged prostitutes for guests while working as a hotel security guard.
Euronews
40 minutes ago
- Euronews
Spain seeks to ban flushing of wet wipes and releasing of balloons
Spain is set to ban people from throwing wet wipes down the toilet and deliberately releasing disposable balloons, in a bid to protect its rivers and seas from plastic pollution. The law being prepared by the government will make wet wipe manufacturers cover the cost of cleaning up their products from the country's clogged sewers and water-treatment plants. Released this week, the draft decree is aimed at ensuring Spain meets the UN's Sustainable Development Goals concerning responsible consumption and production, and conserving the ocean. Wet wipes and balloons are the fifth and ninth most commonly found single-use plastic items on European beaches, according to an EU directive referenced by the Spanish government. It also reiterates that marine litter 'has a transboundary character in nature and is considered a growing global problem.' Marketed as a household convenience, wet wipes are anything but in the wider world. 'Wet wipes - even those made with natural polymers that haven't been chemically modified - have a negative environmental impact and significantly affect the functioning of the sewer and purification networks,' Spain's legislation says. 'Because they do not disintegrate completely, they cause obstructions in the sewer system that reduce its water retention capacity and increase the risk of overflows - especially during spells of heavy rain.' That builds up a hefty bill for authorities. The annual cost of clearing wet wipes from sewer and purification systems is around €230 million, according to figures from the Spanish Association of Water Supply and Sanitation. And the environmental cost is huge, as even biodegradable wipes have been shown to stick around for years. Alongside cluttering our waterways, the fibres and microfibres from these wipes can kill animals which mistakenly ingest them. The fibres absorb harmful chemicals from wastewater, UK charity Final Straw Foundation warns, acting like toxic sponges in aquatic ecosystems. Spain is looking to transfer the cost of cleaning up this plastic pollution to producers. The country's new law would mean wet wipe manufacturers have to cover the costs of cleaning up their products, 'including cleaning of sanitation and treatment infrastructure, as well as its subsequent transport and treatment'. The companies will also be obliged to cover the costs of 'awareness-raising measures' - with the government stressing that public education is a crucial part of the solution. Although genuinely biodegradable wipes will be exempt from the ban on flushing wet wipes down the toilet, Spain's environment ministry is urging people not to throw any kinds of wet wipes down the loo. It remains to be seen how the consumer part of the legislation will work in practice.
Euronews
an hour ago
- Euronews
Russia accuses Serbia of ‘stabbing Moscow in the back' by arming Kyiv
Russia accused Serbia of exporting arms to Ukraine, calling it a "stab in the back" from one of Moscow's longest-standing European allies. The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) issued a statement on Thursday claiming that "Serbian defence enterprises, contrary to the 'neutrality' declared by official Belgrade, continue to supply ammunition to Kyiv.' The statement alleged that the export of the Serbian arms to Ukraine was going through NATO intermediaries, "primarily the Czech Republic, Poland and Bulgaria." "Recently, exotic options involving African states have also been used for this purpose," SVR said. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić denied the accusations on Friday, saying that although the contract with the Czech Republic does exist, it does not allow exporting the materiel to another country. "For example, they correctly say that there is a contract with the Czech Republic. But no permission was given, and none of the (ammunition) was delivered" to Ukraine, Vučić told Serbian state broadcaster RTS. He added that he had already discussed the issue of arms exports to Ukraine with Russian President Vladimir Putin recently and that it was agreed that Moscow and Belgrade would create a "working group" to establish how Serbian-made weapons reached Ukraine. This is not the first time Vučić has had to respond to similar claims. The Financial Times reported in June 2024 that Serbian ammunition worth €750 million has made its way indirectly to Ukraine. In March, Belgrade denied it exported arms to Kyiv after Moscow demanded to know if it had delivered thousands of rockets for Ukraine's defence against Russia's all-out invasion. Serbian arms' presence in Ukraine, mostly Soviet-era calibre ammunition adopted as standard and manufactured in the former Yugoslavia, has been publicly discussed since 2023, but it is unclear why the Russian foreign security service decided to react now. The SVR has claimed that the arms sales are being carried out through a "simple scheme using fake end-user certificates and intermediary countries" serving as "a cover for anti-Russian actions". The accusations out of Moscow went even further to say that "the contribution of Serbian defence industry workers to the war unleashed by the West, the outcome of which Europe would like to see as a 'strategic defeat' of Russia, amounts to hundreds of thousands of shells ... as well as a million rounds of ammunition for small arms". 'It seems that the desire of Serbian defence industry workers and their patrons to profit from the blood of fraternal Slavic peoples has made them completely forget who their real friends are and who their enemies are," the statement said. Vučić stated that the attacks on Serbia from the East and the West are "frequent" because Belgrade "leads autonomous and independent policies". Serbia is one of the countries in the Western Balkans that is considered a major candidate for EU membership. At the same time, Vučić has maintained close ties with Russia, including after Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He was among a handful of European leaders to attend Putin's Victory Day parade in Moscow on 9 May, a decision Vučić defended by saying he was there to celebrate Serbia's participation in liberating the continent from fascism in World War II. Serbia also refused to join Western sanctions on Russia and hasn't supported most EU statements condemning Moscow's full-scale invasion, although it voted in favour of its condemnation at the UN.
