French President Macron posted today: "Russia has again launched hundreds of drones and a dozen missiles to Ukraine overnight, carrying out indiscriminate attacks targeting residential areas and government headquarters. I express my condolences to the victims and their families, and show solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. We are with Ukraine and our partners in defending peace. Russia is increasingly falling into the logic of war and terror. We will continue to do everything we can to ensure a just and lasting peace with Ukraine."
Comments: Although Europe strongly condemns Russia's military actions in public opinion, such as Macron characterizing it as "indiscriminate attacks" and saying that Russia "is increasingly falling into the logic of war and terror," it has very limited ability to force Putin to stop the war. On one hand, there are serious divisions within Europe on its policy towards Russia, making it difficult to form a unified and effective action. For example, regarding the proposal to establish a "volunteer alliance" to send troops to Ukraine, Germany has been ambiguous, while countries like Italy have clearly opposed it, which makes it impossible for Europe to exert sufficient pressure on Russia with a single voice. On the other hand, Europe's military strength is relatively inferior to that of Russia, and its defense industry capacity is insufficient to meet Ukraine's military needs, resulting in weak military deterrence. Meanwhile, Europe's economic dependence on Russian energy was once a weakness, and although sanctions have been imposed, it also bears the pressure of soaring energy prices, further limiting Europe's ability and sustainability to exert pressure on Russia.
In the absence of sufficient strength and internal unity, Europe's kind of support is more at the level of morality and public opinion, and cannot be transformed into actual influence to force Russia to stop the war. It can only rely on American power to some extent, but cannot dominate the situation, fully reflecting its dilemma of having the will but lacking the ability.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1842605638036483/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.