By Rostyslav Averchuk
Lviv, Nov 2 (EFE).- The disappointment is growing in Ukraine with the lack of urgency among some of the allies and their limited support to Ukraine, as well as what is seen as a meek reaction to the growing involvement of North Korea.
If Ukraine’s allies continue to turn a blind eye to the arrival of North Korean soldiers on European soil, reality may one day “knock painfully on their door,” Andriy Yermak, head of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s presidential office, stressed on Saturday.
His reaction followed the report by Ukraine’s military intelligence of the arrival of 7,000 troops from Russia’s ally to the border between the countries.
“Russia is not crossing your red lines – it is walking down a red carpet. A carpet, woven from weak responses, unfounded hopes, and complacency,” Sergiy Kyslytsya, Permanent Representative at the UN, also warned at the Security Council meeting this week.
Growing uncertainty
Endorsing Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Victory Plan would be the best response to the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea, Oleksandr Volodymyr Merezhko, head of the Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee and deputy of the governmental party, told EFE.
However, at least two of its key provisions (immediately inviting Ukraine to join NATO and allowing it to strike Russia’s territory with Western missiles) have been met with skepticism by the United States and Germany, among some other allies.
Moreover, only 10% of the 60 billion in military aid promised by the US over six months ago has been delivered to Ukraine so far, President Zelenskyy revealed in an interview this week.
The feeling that (despite all the assurances) support for Ukraine is becoming less of a strategic priority for the allies is worrying, Taras, a soldier with the 24th Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, told EFE.
While assistance from abroad is crucial to Ukraine’s chances of defending itself from Russia, the constant lack of certainty about its future makes military planning very complicated.
As an example, Ukrainian commanders constantly face the dilemma of whether they can use the available artillery shells to repel Russian attacks and save more lives of their soldiers now or use them sparingly in case new deliveries take more than expected.\
“If we were certain that we would get the necessary support for several years, it would change the situation dramatically,” Taras underlined.
The allies may have acquired a false sense of security after Ukraine dealt some heavy blows to Russia at the start of the invasion, he suggested.
The cost of supporting Ukraine now is much lower than what it would be if Russia prevails and the trust in the promises from the West is undermined, he underlined.
Morale affected by limited support
Taras highlighted that the lack of certainty about allied support affects troop morale amid Russia’s slow but steady progress on parts of the front line.
“It is very important for us to know that we are not alone in this struggle,” he said.
“We feel the support from abroad through humanitarian aid and funding and are very grateful,” Emilia Jutkovska, a psychologist from Kherson, told EFE.
However, more locals are getting tired and losing belief in victory amid intensified Russian drone and artillery attacks against civilians.
“More people are doubting our victory because the partners are giving weapons with delays and don’t allow us to use it where we need it,” she added.
The locals continue to fight, but they are afraid of failing to liberate the Russian-occupied territories and of never seeing their families who remain there.
Time to act
Despite its problems, Ukraine shares the same values of democracy and freedom of speech that its allies do, Taras said.
“I would not like this world to shrink because someone is afraid to fight for it,” he underlined, noting that the West should not overestimate the capabilities of the alliance of authoritarian countries. EFE
ra/dgp