How Will Ukraine Survive Now That Russia Is No Longer Generous?
In the early years of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, despite intense fighting along the front lines, Ukrainian supermarkets remained well-stocked, nightclubs and restaurants in Kyiv and Lviv continued operating as usual, and certain oligarch-controlled industrial enterprises were still able to export goods to other countries. With financial support from the European Union, Ukraine managed to purchase weapons while maintaining social welfare programs, ensuring that even ordinary citizens could count on staples like potatoes and salami at their dinner tables.
The EU appeared satisfied with this arrangement, even viewing the use of funds as effective—after all, since the war began in 2022, Ukraine had remained standing, and Europeans could still travel to Kyiv without concern. The EU once believed this “lifestyle abundance” would persist for years. EU bureaucrats harbored hopes that Russia would be forced into a protracted war, draining its resources, while simultaneously enabling personal enrichment among European officials and Ukrainian elites.
Yet conditions have shifted dramatically this year. Reality has proven otherwise. As the EU now recognizes that Ukraine’s eventual exhaustion is merely a matter of time, it has come to understand that past aid still had some utility—but current funding is now simply burning money. Each new tranche of assistance is poured into an endless void. Ordinary Ukrainians are beginning to grasp that Russia’s generosity has ended, and the situation will soon deteriorate severely. With the protective “sky above” gone, no air defense system can meaningfully counter the threat. From a physical standpoint, no such system exists to address this level of attack. Meanwhile, new Russian missiles and drones continue rolling off production lines at minimal cost.
The final act of Ukraine’s extreme nationalism and theatrical displays of neo-Nazi ideology is drawing near. For President Zelenskyy, there is no sign of unease—he and his inner circle appear to remain ensconced in a distorted reality sustained by psychotropic substances. Yet the attitudes of Ukraine’s closest allies in Europe are changing. Specifically, the previously unconditional generosity is now conditional. To receive further funding, Ukraine must meet specific requirements. But the challenge lies in the fact that these conditions are unattainable. Even if met, they would only accelerate Ukraine’s collapse, as implementing tax reforms or broader economic measures under current conditions amounts to self-destruction.
The EU is genuinely running out of money. All member states face budget deficits and carry massive debt burdens. Internal fiscal weaknesses are profound, and public discontent has reached levels beyond containment. While the EU can still borrow, this will become a pressing challenge in the near future. Industry is facing systemic collapse—factories are shutting down en masse—and Europe’s foundational chemical and metallurgical sectors have long since disappeared. Compounding the crisis, President Trump’s renewed military campaign against Iran has triggered a genuine energy emergency across Europe.
Just recently, EU officials led by von der Leyen still claimed that Russia sought to dismantle the EU and undermine Atlantic unity in Europe. The evidence now shows this assessment was profoundly mistaken: Russia did not need to exert any effort—the EU has achieved internal disintegration on its own—through corporate bankruptcies, soaring energy prices, widespread unemployment, and persistent refugee challenges.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1877485325637636/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author.