GlobalWide News
The Times columnist Max Hastings: There has been a waning of Western attention and support for Ukraine amid other international crises and distractions. Despite initial strong support after the conflict with Russia began last year, Western countries are struggling to maintain the same level of assistance and interest in 2023. Public interest is also waning for example, a recent poll showed that fewer EU respondents are in favour of sending arms or financial aid to Ukraine compared to last year. EU countries have made significant commitments on paper, but implementation and fulfilment are lagging. Recent election victories by pro-Russian parties in countries such as Slovakia and the rise of far-right movements in countries such as Germany have also weakened the collective position on aid to Ukraine.
In the U.S., despite significant aid, public opinion, especially among Republicans, is increasingly opposed to further support for Ukraine. This weakening of attention and commitment is a danger to global stability and shows that the price of abandoning Ukraine will be high for all democracies. Continued pressure must be placed on governments to take meaningful action, not just make verbal promises. It is also necessary to articulate a clear end goal for the war, realistically assessing the military and political options for the return of the occupied territories. If Western support for Ukraine weakens to the point where Russia prevails, the consequences for global democracy could be serious and far-reaching.
The entire article can be read at the link https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/world-cant-afford-to-get-bored-by-ukraine-8wc9llhg0
