Undoubtedly, last week was dominated by the continuing standoff between Moscow and the West over Russia’s threatening behavior towards Ukraine.
And Ukraine, because of the increased danger it has been exposed to, again remained at the center of international attention.
If Moscow had hitherto been warning the West that it was drawing red lines concerning Ukraine’s possible eventual integration into NATO and the EU, last week Moscow received some of its own treatment. Western leaders responded by setting out their own red lines for the Kremlin.
It was told by U.S. President Joe Biden, other Western leaders, NATO, the EU and the G7, to back off or face the severest of responses. These, it was made clear to avoid the bellicose rhetoric favored by Moscow, would not take the form of direct military confrontation, but crippling economic sanctions.
If Russia’s President Vladimir Putin had being maneuvering to be accepted on his own perverse terms as a fearsome actor who needs to be placated, the unusually united firm stance of the Western side will have caused him to pause for thought and feel even more isolated.
Relief for Ukraine
Ukraine was reassured that it can rely on strong political and moral support from its western allies and friends. This, of course is critical at such a such a tense moment. Invariably, Kyiv would have liked to receive clearer assurances that military aid in the form of weapons and other military assistance, as well as the acceleration of the country’s integration into North Atlantic structures, would be forthcoming. But this is the best that is on offer at the moment.
At the end of the day, what was important is that Ukraine heard from the U.S. president directly as well as from other key Western partners, that ite would not be sacrificed, and that no deal would be made behind its back to appease the Kremlin.
Indeed, the events of last week may well have galvanized the West into taking a more principled, resolute and united stance vis a vis Moscow. The need to find ways of jumpstarting the moribund Normandy format process on achieving peace in the Russo Ukrainian conflict in eastern Ukraine was recognized, as was the realization that the notorious Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline could also be an effective weapon in the hands of the West, not just the Kremlin’s.
Looking hopefully towards Europe
The end of the Merkel era in Germany, and the appearance of a new government coalition in which the foreign minister from the Greens is an outspoken opponent of Nord Stream 2 and critic of Moscow, also raised hopes That Berlin will to be more sensitive to Ukraine’s security and other needs, as well as that of the concerns eastern European countries generally.
This week the crystallization of positions will continue. For Ukraine, the key international event will be the 6th EU Eastern Partnership (EaP) Summit on Dec.15 when the EU and Eastern partner countries leaders will meet in Brussels. No great surprises are expected but it will be another step forward in Ukraine’s chosen direction and another moment of discomfort for the Kremlin.
And at home, relative calm before the new storms?
On the domestic scene, last week was a relatively quiet one. The political struggle continued mainly behind the scenes. President Zelensky, after his telephone conversation in mid-week with the U.S leader, went on TV on Friday night to reassure the nation.
He also used the occasion to stress again that he is determined to stick to his course and not let up in his efforts to curb the influence of the oligarchs. In the meantime, Kyiv’s Western partners again urged it to intensify the battle against corruption accelerate reform of the legal system.
