The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, warned yesterday about the “wrong turns” in history “when the enemy manages to undermine international support and solidarity. When the civilized world begins to seek compromises with terrorists and to make concessions to tyrants”. The message was part of his speech on the Day of Dignity and Freedom of Ukraine and was obviously aimed at Western allies at a time when the latter appear to be faltering at the prospect of endless war and considerations of a hypothetical pact are emerging end with Vladimir Putin. “We all lose,” said Zelenski. Ukraine europe The whole world”.
The Day of Dignity and Freedom yesterday celebrated 19 years of the Orange Revolution and ten years of the Revolution of Dignity, that is, of the first Maidan, which gave impetus to pro-European forces in Ukraine, and of the second, the so-called Euromaidan, started on November 21, 2013, when the protests began when President Viktor Yanukovych backed away from signing the Association Agreement with the EU in favor of economic integration with Russia. Yanukovych, discredited even in front of his electoral base in the east and south of the country and in the eyes of Putin himself, was dismissed by Parliament and ended up fleeing to Moscow. For the Kremlin, that was a coup d’état and the pretext to recover Crimea. The war in Donbass would start almost immediately, as a result of a state of considerable chaos.
However, the Euromaidan is a foundational event in today’s Ukraine, with its martyrology, the so-called Hundred Celestials, victims of the violence on February 20, 2014, who are honored in the memorial of the tiny church of St. Archangel Michael, near the Parliament, in Kyiv. Zelenski and his wife went there yesterday with the President of Moldova, Maia Sandu. And, on his own account and on an officially unannounced visit, the German Minister of Defense, Boris Pistorius. The head of the Pentagon, by the way, went to Kyiv on the eve. Lloyd Austin thus evaded the commemoration of the Euromaidan, which Moscow interprets as a plot hatched by the United States.
On the part of Austin, the promises of military support were reiterated, but more important were those of Germany, which from its hesitant position after the Russian invasion – offering helmets for the soldiers and little else – has become the second arms supplier. Boris Pistorius promised “additional” support worth 1.3 billion euros, in line with Chancellor Scholz’s announcement that in 2024 Berlin would double, from 4,000 to 8,000 million, its military aid. This includes, it is known, four Iris-T anti-aircraft defense systems (out of eight committed, three have been delivered), anti-tank mines and 20,000 155 mm ammunition, the most used. The Taurus missiles coveted by the Ukrainians remain vetoed.
Equally important was the visit yesterday by the president of the European Council, Charles Michel. Fifteen days ago, the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, traveled to Kyiv. In mid-December, the EU must pronounce at a summit on the start of accession negotiations for Ukraine (and Moldova), a decision that must be accompanied by an economic package.
Charles Michel said yesterday that Ukraine has made “progress”. He did not specify which ones, but once again Kyiv has been timely in announcing new successes in the fight against corruption. The latter, against the two managers of the Special Communications Service, or computer counter-espionage, for making money by purchasing equipment at an overpriced price.
“We are doing everything we can and we will continue to do it”, said Zelenski yesterday, who stated that he wants “results” in December.
It will be a “difficult” summit, he said, or rather reiterated Charles Michel. The discrepancies between the Twenty-seven remain and do not seem to be abating. Yesterday the Parliament of Slovakia confirmed the new government of Robert Fico, close to the postulates of the Hungarian Viktor Orbán and who has promised to suspend military aid to Ukraine, which is nothing less than the country next door.
