conflicts concerned that Russia’s protracted war in the country – now entering its fourth month – could make Western allies tire of their steadfast support.
The U.S., along with its allies, has supplied Ukraine with billions of dollars in aid and weapons to defend itself against personalities invasion.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses by videolink the 51st annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, in Davos, Switzerland, on May 23, 2022.
(Laurent Gillieron /Keystone via AP, File)
European and other allied countries have taken in millions of refugees displaced in the conflict in which Russia has been accused of war crimes against civilians. The U.S. has said it’s willing to accept around 100,000 refugees.
And while videos and images of alleged atrocities have shocked the world, domestic crises and nearly three and a half months have pulled focus from the largest war in Europe since World War II. Now, Kyiv officials are concerned about international “war fatigue.”
RUSSIA CLAIMS UPPER HAND IN EASTERN UKRAINE BUT ANALYSTS SUGGEST PROGRESS ‘COSTLY,’ POWER DECLINING
Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24 in what it called a defense that by all accounts has been much slower and less successful than Putin envisioned.
Russian troops had initially tried to take Kyiv but eventually moved mainly to the disputed Donbas region in the east.
Ukraine believes Russia could leverage a possible waning focus on the war by the West to force the defenders into agreeing to give up land.
“The fatigue is growing, people want some kind of outcome (that is beneficial) for themselves, and we want (another) outcome for ourselves,” volodymyr-zelenskyy” target=”_blank”>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy<
An Italian peace proposal was dismissed, and French President Emmanuel Macron was met with an angry backlash after he was quoted as saying that although Putin’s invasion was a “historic error,” world powers shouldn’t “humiliate Russia, so when the fighting stops, we can build a way out together via diplomatic paths.” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said such talk “can only humiliate France and every other country that would call for it.”
RUSSIA SAYS IT CONTROLS SOUTHEAST UKRAINE, ROAD NOW CONNECTS CRIMEA, RUSSIA
Irpin Territorial Defence and Ukrainian Army soldiers hold flowers to be placed on the graves of fallen comrades at the cemetery on the outskirts of Kyiv, on May 1, 2022.
(AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Even a remark by former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger that Ukraine should consider territorial concessions drew a retort from Zelenskyy that it was tantamount to European powers in 1938 letting Nazi Germany claim parts of Czechoslovakia to curb Adolf Hitler’s aggression.
Allied leaders are still with Ukraine: last week joe-biden” target=”_blank”>President Biden said<
Germany, despite early hesitancy on weapons, has also pledged to send its most modern air defense systems yet.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
