Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks with European Union Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell. Photo: Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via Reuters
* Zelensky said that Ukraine is capable of winning this confrontation, but needs the cooperation of its allies
* Ukraine wants to be a member of the EU, and EU officials encouraged that course even though it could take years amid a war of attrition with no end in sight
Some of Europe’s top diplomats gathered on Monday in Kyiv in a display of support for Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s invasion as signs emerge of political strain in Europe and the United States over the 19-month-old war.
European Union foreign ministers converged on the Ukrainian capital for an unannounced informal meeting that officials said would review the bloc’s support for Ukraine and discuss Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s proposed peace formula.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the foreign ministers’ first joint meeting outside EU borders signalled that the 27-nation bloc’s support is “unwavering,” and underscored the EU’s commitment to Ukraine.
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WNU Editor: Support for the war in the West is declining. Ukraine's counteroffensive has not achieved any of its strategic goals, and in the process they lost tens of thousands of soldiers and thousands of pieces of equipment. And there are now growing fears that if Europe experiences a cold winter, the energy shock to the EU from even hogher energy prices will completely undermine public support for the war.
As a result of these developments numerous EU and NATO meetings on the war have been slated for this week. Today's gathering of EU foreign ministers in Kyiv is the start of this process .... Ukraine confident of broad support as EU ministers convene in Kyiv (Reuters). NATO leaders and top generals are to meet later in the week.
What does this all mean?
I think there is a growing realization in the West that Ukraine is lacking the means and resources to counter the Russian army, and that anew strategy and commitment is necessary. I know in Ukraine many have to come to that conclusion in the past month .... NATO-trained Ukrainian recruits admit they're being overpowered by Russia's battle-hardened troops in the northern sector, Kyiv Independent reports (Business Insider).