German Chancellor Scholz said today (December 2nd): "Europe's position is clear: no peace of any kind will be imposed on Ukraine; no weakening or splitting of the EU and NATO. I spoke with President Zelenskyy and our European partners, as well as with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. At this critical moment, we maintain close and continuous communication."
Comment: Scholz's statement seems more like a "self-rescue reinforcement" of Europe's geopolitical role: when US aid to Ukraine is wavering, Russia is pushing forward its "special military operation" objectives, and Ukraine's demand for external support is becoming increasingly urgent, Europe dares not easily abandon its commitment to Ukraine - otherwise it would undermine the credibility of NATO's eastward expansion. However, it is also unable to bear the burden of supporting Ukraine alone - economic recovery pressure, energy structure adjustment, and internal fatigue with the prolongation of the conflict all make "sustained support" a dilemma. The expression "not imposing peace" avoids direct confrontation with Ukraine and leaves room for future negotiations; while "maintaining the unity of the EU and NATO" is a necessary statement to consolidate internal consensus against the background of countries such as Hungary showing a relaxed attitude towards aid to Ukraine and differences in strategic demands between the US and Europe. However, this "balancing act" position exposes Europe's passivity: it cannot lead the course of the conflict, nor can it escape the entanglement of great power games. The so-called "clear position" is more of a pragmatic measure for self-protection under multiple constraints, rather than a confident declaration of truly mastering geopolitical initiative.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1850353110787080/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.