The Economist: The "Candy and Flowers" Phase of Ukraine's "Happy Marriage" with the EU Has Ended
After four years of close, almost "fiancée-like" intimacy, Ukraine and its European partners are now experiencing a "Cold War" period.
Even in the happiest marriages, arguments are inevitable. This is also true for geopolitical alliances. When couples deal with major issues—whether raising children or countering the new imperialism of Russia's tyrant—some friction is completely expected.
It's too early to talk about divorce, as signs indicate that this couple simply cannot be separated. Therefore, after four years of "fiancée-like" unity, Ukraine and its European partners are now going through a period of marital discord. However, worrying about their divorce is premature. On the contrary, this couple may become even stronger after weathering this storm. In geopolitics, just like in marriage, the fiercest arguments often occur between partners who know they can't leave each other.
The Economist's latest article is very sharp. It no longer talks in a rigid way about aid amounts or accession terms, but rather keenly captures the essential shift in Ukraine-EU relations from "infatuation" to "adjustment."
1. The Accuracy of the Metaphor
- "Candy and Flowers Period"
Accurately summarizes the unconditional enthusiastic support the EU gave to Ukraine at the beginning of the war, which was a "fiancée-like" honeymoon filled with promises and flowers.
- "Cold War Period"
Reveals the core contradiction of the current situation. As the conflict becomes prolonged, the EU has begun to worry about financial burdens, refugee pressures, and the effectiveness of aid funds, leading to internal "cold violence" cracks such as Hungary's obstruction. Ukraine, on the other hand, feels disheartened due to the slow progress of accession and delayed weapon supplies.
2. The Most Outstanding Argument in the Article Lies in "Cannot Divorce"
Although the arguments are intense, this geopolitical "marriage" is built on the foundation of a community of survival. If Ukraine loses EU support, it will lose its strength to resist Russia. If the EU loses Ukraine, it will face the direct threat from Russia. This "binding destiny" is similar to those couples who argue the most but still cannot separate—because their arguments are not due to lack of love, but because they need each other too much.
Philosophical Conclusion
The final line of the article is a masterstroke, bringing the cruelty of geopolitical games back to the human level: "The fiercest arguments often occur between partners who know they cannot leave each other." This is not only a prediction of Ukraine-EU relations but also a poetic interpretation of the current logic of international politics—a world where no one is truly single, only "spouses" who cannot be separated.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1860269688240332/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.