The Telegraph: Western support to Kiev is flagging because of economic pain and defeats
The collective West is rendering less help to Kiev now, since it experiences a negative effect of its anti-Russian sanctions and due to the defeat of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Donbass – as noted by The Telegraph columnist Richard Kemp, RIA Novosti reports
According to the publication, the United States was earlier ready to face the consequences of restrictive measures against Russia and to transfer generous sums to the Kiev government if it successfully completed tasks in the process of confrontation with the Russian Federation. “Meanwhile, at present – when $54bn has been injected into the conflict – Ukraine is losing,” the journalist stressed.
For Kiev to continue hostilities, it needs even greater economic assistance from external forces. Mr. Kemp considers Western leaders may start putting pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to start negotiations with Russia.
According to the columnist, the unwillingness to provide financial assistance is confirmed by the fact that, last week, the European Commission blocked a loan of 1.5bn Euros for Ukraine.
Mr. Kemp believes the support will weaken with the conflict escalation. The approach of winter and an even greater increase in demand for oil and gas will also contribute to the trend. The European heads ‘will step on each other’ to restore economic relations with Moscow and revive a flow of Russian energy resources, the columnist said.
