Six months from Russia Invades UkraineThe West’s response to the crisis remained strong and largely unified – much to the surprise of many.
Despite years of fractured relations during the era of former US president Donald Trump and the Covid-19 pandemic, the transatlantic alliance has managed to pull together and reached agreements on financial support and arms financing for Kyiv, Russian energy cessation agreements as well as sanctions designed to hit President Vladimir Putin and his friends.
However, as the crisis marks its half-yearly anniversary, officials across Europe fear that consensus could break as the continent enters a bleak winter with rising food prices, limited energy. for heating homes and the possibility of real degradation.
For the purposes of this article, CNN spoke to numerous Western officials and diplomats, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
In the wake of more draconian measures to come, the German capital Berlin has turned off the lights on monuments to save electricity, while shops in France have been told to close while the air conditioning is on. , otherwise will be fined.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who had captured the imagination of the West and spurred nations to support his war effort, it could be difficult for him to capture the attention of his fellow European leaders as the conflict dragged on. long.
“The challenge for Ukraine is the same as day one: keeping the West around when the cost of supporting Kyiv comes home – not just Putin’s grain and gas blackmail, but also the cost of support,” says Keir Giles. economic and humanitarian assistance”. , a senior consultant at the consulting organization Chatham House.
“That’s probably why Zelensky said he wants the war to end before Christmas, because the real problems will keep the West coming to terms with its promises in the long run.”
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