The ranks of Ukraine’s supporters abroad are growing thinner.
Newly installed U.S. President Donald J. Trump has rarely said anything that shows he understands or sympathizes with Ukraine’s situation, while he has repeatedly praised Russia’s murderous dictator, Vladimir Putin.
France’s presidential election this spring looks likely to be a runoff between two pro-Kremlin politicians. Whoever wins, Ukraine loses.
Hungary, meanwhile, is getting ready to welcome Putin to Budapest on an official visit on Feb. 2. The country’s prime minister, Viktor Orban, has welcomed Trump’s election as an opportunity to improve America’s, and by extension Europe’s, relations with Russia.
And Austria, which took over the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the body overseeing the shaky cease-fire in the Donbas, has a foreign minister who last year said that the West should dangle the carrot of the relaxation of sanctions on Russia in return for the Kremlin’s withdrawal from the Donbas.
In Ukraine, billionaire oligarch Victor Pinchuk has tested public sentiment with an opinion piece that appeared to suggest that Ukraine give up its claim to Crimea in return for peace in the Donbas. There would be an “incremental rollback” of sanctions on the Kremlin as well.
Thus the outlines of a possible deal on Ukraine appear to be forming, and they do not look good either for Ukraine or the West. If sanctions are dropped in return for the Kremlin ceasing its war in the Donbas, leaving it still in control of Crimea, Russia will get away with its land grab. It might even be encouraged to attempt some more.
That must not happen. By all means, agree on Russia’s withdrawal from the Donbas, but until Crimea is returned as well, keep the sanctions.
