The war is approaching its second anniversary and the EU high representative, Josep Borrell, arrives in Kiev for the fourth time. «I am here to discuss with our friends the constant European support on a military level, on a financial level, with the new fund for Ukraine, and on the reform path towards the EU», explains the head of European diplomacy. Europe, for once, reaches the turning point with greater momentum than the United States and is preparing to make the first transfer to Kiev as part of the 50 billion assistance package. “Like two years ago, I am convinced that Ukraine will win and that Europe will remain at its side”, reiterated the President of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen in Strasbourg. In fact, a debate was held in the European Parliament on the occasion of the beginning of the third year of the war in the presence of both von der Leyen and Charles Michel. The president of the European Council also argued with the extreme left of The Left, which complained about Europe's war rhetoric and declared itself “against” sending new weapons to Kiev. “But how do you want the Ukrainians to defend themselves with water guns?” Michel urged.
The situation on the ground remains tense – they are aware of this in Brussels – and therefore the space for the celebrations of the green light from the 27 to the emergency funds can only be short-lived. Now the new round of sanctions must be closed, to combat tax evasion; finding the right solution for EU military aid worth 5 billion a year through the EPF, the European Peace Fund; move forward on the use of the frozen assets of the Russian Central Bank in favor of Ukraine, where action is being taken with great caution, especially by France, Italy, Germany, i.e. the European members of the G7. Borrell's mission also falls in a very delicate phase for Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky is determined to replace many top figures, including the beloved head of the armed forces Valeri Zaluzhny, in an attempt to revive military operations (and remove a cumbersome figure for the Ukrainian commander-in-chief) . Furthermore, if he really wants to win the war, Zelensky will be forced to launch a new mobilization to strengthen the front, with all the political complexities involved.
The high representative will see Zelensky, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, a sign that the consultations will be wide-ranging and wide-ranging. Borrell will then also address the deputies of the Verkhovna Rada. Meanwhile, still around the anniversary, Steadfast Defender finally comes to life, the NATO mega-exercise designed to discourage Moscow from crazy ideas and test the Alliance's men and assets in the first real deterrence operation since the end of the Cold War. The transatlantic troops will then compete with imaginary enemies who have entered Poland from nearby Griseus (i.e. Belarus), crossing the Vistula and securing the Suwalki corridor. «One of the lessons learned with the war in Ukraine – explains Brigadier General Gunnar Brügner – is that we must train better, we must invest in preparation». «Steadfast Defender will give us the opportunity to test the readiness of the troops: time is running out, we still have a few years to be ready», assures Brügner. For what? So that fantasy remains fantasy.
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