Hope gone out: Merz and Selenskyj in the shade of a long war

Hope gone out: Merz and Selenskyj in the shade of a long war

Kiew, Ukraine - Chancellor Friedrich Merz met the Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj in Kiev in mid -May. But the hopes for a negotiation process to end the war have decreased. The thread of talk between Russia and Ukraine seems to be demolished, while Russian air strikes become more intense. US President Donald Trump, who came up with a plan for a quick end of the war, largely leaves the Europeans alone with the problem. Ukraine did not rule out a 30-day ceasefire according to Trump's proposal, but Moscow declined such an agreement.

In a current video message, Selenskyj said no information about an upcoming departure from Kiev. The chart visit to Berlin, Selenskyj's fourth since the Russian invasion of more than three years ago, remains unconfirmed, as well as the security reasons for confidentiality. Merz expresses pessimistic about the duration of the conflict and supports the abolition of the range limitation for German weapons in the Ukraine War. His statements are reflected in the demands of the delivery of Taurus marching aircraft with a range of 500 km through the Union and the Greens.

military location and armaments industry

Ukraine is currently militarily on the defensive, while Russia could not break resistance. In the middle of this tense situation, Selenskyj announced the expansion of the domestic armaments industry; Including the production of attack drones, interceptors, marching aircraft and ballistic rockets. The Ukrainian drones have already been further developed to target Russian energy systems and military objects. However, air sovereignty remains in Russia, and despite increased Ukrainian air defense, it is inadequate to withstand the threat.

The lack of soldiers are also becoming increasingly clear in the fights in the Donbass. Russian attackers continue to move forward, and both sides are in a war of wear with an uncertain outcome. In this context, the war is an increasing risk of global nutritional security and international energy markets, since geopolitical tensions have a lasting impact on international trade.

global effects of the conflict

The conflict contributes to the polarization of the international system and is increasingly internationalized. The West is deeply involved in the military, political and economic support of Ukraine. At the same time, a group of support has formed around Russia, which receives weapons from Iran and North Korea. North Korean soldiers are directly involved in the fighting, while China and other countries are trying to avoid western sanctions and to procure important goods for the armaments industry. This militarization not only has an impact on Ukraine, but also destabilizes other conflict regions worldwide.

The geopolitical tensions also show in the support of Russia for Hamas after the terrorist attack on Israel. This development harbors the danger that Tehran and Pyongyang will receive easier access to Russian nuclear waffle technology. The international system that arose after World War II is undermined by these dynamics, and Russia strives to strengthen structures in which the West is not represented. This leads to a weakening of the UN and other international institutions.

Overall, the challenges that Europe faces seem bigger than ever. The continuing struggles and the geopolitical tensions shape the current situation and represent a significant threat to both Ukraine and the rest of the world. The expectation of further sanctions against Russia in the near future are likely to influence.