Welcome to the latest edition of What about Ukraine?, a newsletter that helps you keep updated about what has been said recently about Ukraine in Ukraine, and in the international media.

Ukraine has first-hand experience of how the world has not reached the end of history. In our Ukrainian article this week, journalist and soldier Pavlo Kazarin describes the changing world order and Ukraine's place and role in this upheaval. He ends with a warning: Europe must relearn self-defence. 

Similar discussions are taking place across Europe, especially due to concerns about Donald Trump's policies on foreign relations and economics. Italy’s La Stampa analyses how prime minister Giorgia Meloni is trying to balance her position between the new US President and Europe. A poll published by France’s Libération shows that Donald Trump's recent statements critical of Ukraine’s leadership have strengthened French solidarity with Ukraine. Still, 78 percent oppose sending French troops to fight alongside Ukrainians, though 55 percent would support peacekeeping forces following a peace agreement. 

In many European countries, there is a lively debate on support for Ukraine, and about the continent’s own defence capacities. The likely new German chancellor is striking a European independent line, while Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez has committed multi-billion support to Ukraine for ten years. Spain’s El País has published a feature on the current state of European armed forces, and debates whether the continent can defend itself without its Transatlantic allies.

This week saw the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, which provides an opportunity to reflect on all that has happened. A Ukraine-specialised reporter for Hungary’s Válaszonline asks himself what Hungary has gained from the pro-Russian policies of the Hungarian government, and can't find a positive answer.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's struggle continues to be followed by the international press, with Germany’s Die Zeit, among others, reporting on how Ukrainian volunteers are risking their lives to restore destroyed infrastructure.

Have a good read!

Kornelia Kiss

Referencing Ernest Hemingway’s wartime novel A Farewell to Arms, Ukrainian journalist Pavlo Kazarin, who joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 2022, reflects on how the full-scale war has transformed Ukraine. Instead of bidding goodbye to arms, he speaks of greeting them.

Three years into the full-scale war, Ukrainian society's perception of history and historical responsibility has changed drastically, the author considers. The country no longer sees itself as living in a post-historical era where all laws and norms were shaped by previous generations - quite the opposite. Major geopolitical shifts are unfolding, with Ukraine at the epicentre, and their reverberations are felt across the globe.

Kazarin observes that today’s confrontation is no longer between the capitalist and communist worlds, as during the Cold War, but between capitalist democracies and capitalist dictatorships. There is no blueprint for sustaining democracies in the face of such threats. In fact, Ukrainians themselves are now at the forefront, gaining first hand experience in resisting dictatorship on the battlefield.

"The problem is that the old European states have long lived in a reality of excessive security. Their inviolability was guaranteed by the United States, without looking over their shoulder in search of possible military threats. Today, they have to re-learn this skill, arm themselves, and accustom their citizens to the idea of not just having rights, but also fighting for them. We could teach them a lot."

This column is part of the series 'The War That Changes Us' by The Ukrainians Media, an independent outlet dedicated to high-quality longform and visual journalism. It was translated for n-ost by Tetiana Evloeva.

Bulgaria

Hundreds march in Sofia on third anniversary of Russian invasion of Ukraine

Hundreds took to the streets of Sofia on 24 February to show solidarity with Ukraine, three years after the start of the Russian full-scale invasion. The demonstration, organised by an informal network of citizens under the slogan 'Peace for Europe and the world through the victory of Ukraine', gathered in front of the presidency, to march to the building of the EU representation in Bulgaria, which had been attacked last week by a protest of the pro-Russian party Vazrazhdane (Renaissance). "We are here to end the war without theft of Ukraine's territory or its mineral resources, and to discourage the aggressor from starting new wars," declared the organisers of the demonstration. (Mediapool)

In recent years, the military industry in Bulgaria has seen strong growth in terms of production and revenue, which doubled since 2021. Given the small size of the Bulgarian army, the bulk of weapons produced in the country are intended for export. A ceasefire in Ukraine would have significant consequences for the sector. According to Bulgarian experts, however, the Bulgarian military industry will continue to develop in the years to come: both the American disengagement from Europe and the need to replenish reserves of ammunition and weapons used on the battlefield in Ukraine could necessitate high levels of production. (money.bg)

Bulgaria, together with Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, has asked the European Commission to reintroduce quotas for the import of agricultural products from Ukraine. The provisional regulation expires in June 2025. Sofia is among those asking for measures to protect its internal market from cheaper Ukrainian imports. Since June 2022, Ukrainian imports have not been subject to customs duties in the EU. Bulgaria has repeatedly asked for the reintroduction of restrictions on products such as wheat, eggs and honey. (BTA)

France

Staying in France or returning to Ukraine: the refugee dilemma

France has become a prime target of Russian disinformation, particularly after President Emmanuel Macron's February 2024 statement about potentially sending troops to Ukraine. Russia has deployed campaigns, such as the Doppelgänger operation which cloned legitimate news websites, while Operation Matriochka flooded fact-checkers with fake content. In Paris, blue Stars of David, and coffin-shaped fighter jet graffiti have appeared on streets in cases linked to potential Russian influence. France's state service against foreign digital interference notes these operations had a limited impact, unless they were amplified by media coverage. Recently, a Russian operation spread false claims about the secret recruitment of the French-speaking African diaspora to fight in Ukraine. (France Info)

Ukrainian refugees' experiences after three years of war is under the focus of the French media. Nataliia returned to Kyiv with her children after two years in Paris, and resumed her teaching position while her family rebuilt their destroyed home (RFI). Meanwhile, in Chamalières, a rural town in central France, Ukrainian refugees work with local associations to send aid back home. While some build new lives in France, others struggle with the thought of returning, like Kateryna: "I don't know if I want to go back. What I dream of is finding Ukraine as it was before the war. But it no longer exists." (Libération)

Following Donald Trump's recent criticisms of Ukraine’s leadership, French solidarity with Ukraine has strengthened, according to a recent Odoxa poll. While 60 percent of French citizens believe a US-Russia agreement excluding Ukraine would endanger both Ukraine and destabilise Europe, they remain committed to supporting Ukraine through humanitarian aid, weapons and refugee assistance. However, 78 percent oppose sending French troops to fight alongside Ukrainians, though 55 percent would support peacekeeping forces following a peace agreement. The poll also reveals that 72 percent of French people view the potential spread of war to other European countries as a real threat. (Libération) 

Germany 

Future Chancellor to strengthen Europe's defence capabilities

"The world out there is not waiting for us. We must quickly regain our ability to act," said CDU leader Friedrich Merz on the night of his party’s election victory. Merz has been emphasising the necessity of acting decisively to bolster Europe’s defence capabilities, particularly considering challenges posed by the US under Trump. He advocates for continued military assistance to Ukraine, and insists negotiations must not occur without Ukraine. There is consensus among CDU/CSU and SPD (the next possible coalition) on supporting Ukraine. Germany has provided approximately 28 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine since the Russian invasion. (Deutsche Welle)

On the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, over 8,000 demonstrated in Berlin to show their solidarity. The Brandenburg Gate was illuminated in Ukraine's national blue and yellow colors. Protesters marched past the Russian embassy, carrying flags and signs stating "Russia is a terrorist state". Berlin's mayor, Kai Wegner (CDU), emphasised the importance of supporting Ukraine, stating, "There must never be a forced peace." Currently, nearly 70,000 Ukrainian refugees reside in Berlin, marking a ten percent increase on last year, compared to around 25,000 Ukrainians living in Berlin and Brandenburg before February 2022. (rbb)

Russian forces have systematically destroyed Ukraine's infrastructure, leaving cities like Kharkiv, Donbas and Mykolaiv without access to clean water, electricity or heating. Since 24 February, 2022, there have been over 1,000 attacks on critical infrastructure. "Cut cables, blown-up pipes and destroyed substations isolate villages and cities, but that's not enough for the Russians. The attackers also target the sources [of energy and water]: they destroy dams and hydropower plants and bomb coal and thermal power plants," report Zeit journalists. Despite these challenges, individual workers and volunteers risk their lives to deliver essential services. (ZEIT)

Hungary

Ukraine has a new ambassador in Budapest after years of turmoil

On 24 February 2022, university professor of Ukrainian-Hungarian origin Fedir Shandor waited in line at the military conscription office in Uzhhorod. Exactly three years later, he was appointed Hungary's ambassador to Ukraine. He served two years at the front, gaining recognition for giving online courses to his students from the trenches. His example shows the significant role that soldiers from the Hungarian minority in Ukraine play in defending their country, and draws attention to this issue in Hungary. (Telex)

Over 2,000 dogs, 350 horses, dozens of cows, goats and sheep: this was the sight that awaited those who visited the Kharkiv racecourse in the months after the start of the full-scale Russian invasion. Initially, 120 racehorses were evacuated, but the stables were not left empty for long. They were soon filled with abandoned animals left behind in besieged villages and towns. A Népszava report shows how the animal shelter works today. (Népszava)

On the third anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion, Szabolcs Vörös, one of the few Hungarian journalists who spent considerable time on the Ukrainian frontline, wrote a letter to his Ukrainian friends. The Válaszonline reporter grappled with how he could reconcile his own feelings with the Hungarian government's stance towards Ukraine - which he described as "three years of inexplicable" actions. "The half of the country that cares what happens the day after tomorrow is with you [the Ukrainians]. (... ) This half of the country is taking in refugees or donating to those who are helping the Ukrainian army. (…) They don't understand the same things you don't understand: why is this happening to us? Because three years of pro-aggression [politics of the Hungarian government] has not brought any advantage." (Válaszonline)

Italy

Government divided on sending troops to Ukraine

Italy’s governing coalition is divided on the issue of sending troops to Ukraine. According to informal sources cited by La Stampa, prime minister Giorgia Meloni is willing to send soldiers as part of an international peacekeeping mission, with the involvement of the US. Meanwhile, Matteo Salvini, leader of coalition partner the Lega party, wrote in a statement: "No Italian soldiers in Ukraine." Meloni is trying to find a balance between the European position and that of Donald Trump. During the G7 summit, she avoided critical tones towards the US, despite having reaffirmed support for Kyiv (La Stampa). After meeting with Emmanual Macron, Trump praised Meloni, calling her "a wonderful woman" and "a great leader." (Repubblica)

Head of the Italian Army Carmine Masiello explained that Italian soldiers are learning a lot from the battlefield techniques used in Ukraine. "The war in Ukraine has been a rude awakening," he said. "We were trained for peacekeeping missions and we never would have thought we’d return to the trenches. We had to reconsider the use of tanks and artillery." A big change is the wide usage of drones: "In Afghanistan, we were terrified of walking because the danger was improvised explosive devices. In Ukraine, soldiers are terrified of what comes from the sky." (La Stampa).

Among the EU countries, Italians are the most likely to believe that Trump’s arrival would make it easier to end the war in Ukraine, according to the latest survey by the European Council on Foreign Relations. Almost 33 percent believe that Europe should push Kyiv to negotiate peace with Russia, but with the offer of joining NATO. Only 23 percent of Italians believe that Russia alone is responsible for the war, 30 percent think that Ukraine bears some responsibility, and 24 percent think both are equally responsible. When the survey asked whether Ukraine "is part of Europe", only 40 percent were in favour. (Ansa)

Spain

Ten billion euros in military assistance for Ukraine

Prime minister Pedro Sánchez announced a one billion euros aid package for Ukraine on 24 February, 2025. He also revealed that the bilateral agreement between Kyiv and Madrid will provide the same amount annually for the next ten years. The announcement was made during the summit of Western leaders in Kyiv, aimed at supporting Volodymyr Zelensky following Donald Trump’s political shift. (El Confidencial)

The announcement of military and humanitarian aid has upset some of Spain's government partners, such as the far-left party Podemos and the Basque separatists, due to reinforcing the "military path" and "escalating" the war. These are minority positions in Spanish society, but could grow due to yesterday’s announcement. If the military assistance extends for ten years, it means that future governments will have to honour it, although there was no indication that the current leaders consulted with the opposition on this long-term commitment. (El Español)

The current state of European armed forces, now that US aid to Ukraine is under threat, is the theme of an El País feature. The article compares the military capabilities of European countries with those of Washington and Beijing, and delves into specifics such as aircraft, naval vessels and armoured vehicles. Additionally, the report debates whether the continent will be able to defend itself without its allies and examines the potential consequences if US funding to Kyiv comes to a halt, highlighting the possible impact on Europe’s security and military readiness. (El País)

The Europe-Ukraine Desk curated this newsletter. This week's edition has been composed by our team from all over Europe: Lidia Baratta, Kornelia Kiss, Clara Marchaud, Oksana Mamchenkova, Francesco Martino, Antonina Rybka and Fermin Torrano. Michael Bird was our proofreader.

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