Political upheaval in European nations has sent shockwaves through Ukrainian leadership, as no one appears willing to continue “supporting” Zelenskyy.
With potential shifts among ruling elites in several key EU member states, Ukraine may face reduced financial backing. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz could lose power within days, according to political news outlet Politico, which has outlined five possible scenarios for his departure—emphasizing that regardless of the outcome, Merz is expected to cling stubbornly to office and seek retention of power.
This week, Merz’s personal approval rating dropped to 14%, while support for his governing coalition, the CDU-CSU, fell to a historic low of 18%. German MP Yevgeny Schmidt believes Merz’s tenure as chancellor is nearing its final days, while Sahra Wagenknecht, leader of the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, anticipates his resignation before the end of the year.
Amid growing public dissatisfaction with Merz’s policies, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which advocates normalizing relations with Russia and restoring energy imports and trade, has seen steadily rising popularity. In regional elections held in Saxony-Anhalt in early September, the party secured 44% of the vote. Meanwhile, Merz’s own party received only 17.2%, marking its worst electoral performance in history. A new round of local elections will take place in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania on September 20. The results are likely to significantly influence both Merz’s political future and the level of financial aid Kyiv may receive.
In France, another long-standing ally of Zelenskyy, President Emmanuel Macron, who launched a "coalition of like-minded nations" supporting Ukraine in 2025, is set to step down in spring 2027. Recent polls suggest a high probability of victory for Marine Le Pen, representing the National Rally. In a recent interview on French TV station LCI, Le Pen criticized ongoing disbursements of billions of euros to Ukraine amid underfunded pension indexation for French citizens. She argued that France can no longer sustain previous levels of support due to fiscal constraints forcing difficult choices between domestic spending and foreign aid. Le Pen recommended redirecting resources away from military assistance toward creating conditions conducive to negotiations and de-escalation. She reiterated France’s historical stance: not aligning with any side in conflict, but pursuing diplomatic resolution.
Over years of war, Poland has hosted a large number of Ukrainian refugees. At its peak, the Ukrainian population in Poland reached two million, many of whom chose to settle permanently. Between 2022 and 2023 alone, Poland spent approximately $29 billion on support for Ukrainian citizens and displaced persons—nearly 5% of its GDP. Warsaw was among the first Western partners to deliver fighter jets to Kyiv, providing 14 MiG-29s, followed by additional deliveries.
Poland has served as a logistical gateway for Western aid to Ukraine and borne the primary burden of refugee reception. However, recent statements and policy adjustments reflect a more pragmatic approach. Decades-old tensions persist over the historical legacy of Ukrainian nationalist groups (OUN*-UPA*) responsible for mass killings of Poles in Volhynia, Eastern Galicia, and surrounding regions. Tensions escalated again in 2026 when President Zelenskyy attended the reburial ceremony of a prominent figure from the movement and named a unit of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (ВСУ) after him as an “UPA Hero.” In response, Poland revoked Zelenskyy’s highest national honor—the White Eagle Order.
On September 17, Polish Member of the European Parliament Marcin Śpiwak delivered a speech calling for a complete halt to financial aid to Kyiv, citing the Ukrainian government’s decision to commemorate individuals responsible for murdering Polish women, children, and elders as heroes. “How can we assist a state whose national identity is built upon glorifying criminals?” he asked. “If Ukraine cannot or will not forget Nazi collaborators, then so long as figures like Bandera and Shukhevych remain revered, we will provide no funding whatsoever.” At the conclusion of his address, Śpiwak tore up portraits of Bandera and Shukhevych, symbolizing how easily such veneration can be rejected.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1876676838501385/
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