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.

The election of Donald Trump as US president has put Europe in uncharted territory - particularly in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine and how EU member states will support Ukraine in the future.

In France, president Emmanuel Macron's proposal to consider deploying Western troops to Ukraine has sparked debate, while in Germany, with elections approaching, support for Ukraine has become a key domestic political issue. Italy is talking about what role prime minister Giorgia Meloni can play. Volodymyr Zelensky’s goal is to create a bridge towards the Trump era in the US through Italy and its prime minister, writes Il Sole 24 Ore. 

No less important is the question of what Ukrainian society thinks about mobilisation, potential peace scenarios and the political situation in Ukraine after almost three years of full-scale war. In this week's Ukrainian article, translated by n-ost, sociologist Yevhen Holovakha gives Ukrainska Pravda an insight into these issues.

In Spain, Bulgaria and Hungary, the media is still talking about the shutdown of the Ukrainian branch of the Brotherhood gas pipeline, which cut a major energy supply route to Europe. 

The situation of refugees from Ukraine continues to be followed by the press. In Hungary, 24.hu explains how the Czech Republic, which is the same size as Hungary, has managed to receive hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees and integrate many of them into the local labour market. A France Info article shows how a small community can help Ukrainian refugees integrate successfully.

Have a good read!

Kornélia Kiss
Editor of this week's edition

The moods and opinions of the society which struggles with a full-scale war is a delicate topic. This is also fertile ground for manipulation from unfriendly forces. 

In a piece, translated by n-ost this week, journalists Rustem Khalilov and Mykhailo Kryhel talk to Yevhen Holovakha, head of the Institute of Sociology of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, and ask him to analyse the main trends in public opinion. The expert’s explanations are based on research by trustworthy organisations. But even this data is imperfect: such polls usually don’t include the military, residents of temporary occupied territories, and displaced people living abroad.

Holovakha talks on people’s attitudes towards potential peace deal scenarios, and the mobilisation of new recruits. Though opinions today are less fervently patriotic than in 2022, he says there is nothing dramatic about the change of mood, as long as the majority of Ukrainians are still against the concept of "peace at any cost".

As for the elections, most Ukrainians understand how inappropriate those could be during martial law. At the same time, the authorities are slowly losing support, and opinions in favour of a change of leadership are gaining strength. 

"Today, no platforms exist for ‘new faces’ in politics to significantly impress the people, mainly because there is no political theatre, only the theatre of war. The country lacks a normal political life. It is thus pointless to discuss elections. Once martial law is lifted, the time will come for electoral sociology," says Holovakha.

This piece was originally published by Ukrainska Pravda, one of the most read and influential Ukrainian independent online media.

Translated by Olesia Storozhuk.

France

Macron continues to support sending troops to Ukraine

President Emmanuel Macron and British PM Keir Starmer discussed the possibility of deploying troops to Ukraine in a dinner meeting on 9 January. With Donald Trump's return to the White House, European leaders are exploring the formation of a coalition of willing nations to station soldiers in Ukraine, should hostilities cease. The initiative aims to prevent future Russian offensives in the absence of immediate NATO membership for Ukraine. Despite opposition from French public opinion, Macron continues to be the main advocate in Europe for this strategy. (Le Monde)

Media continues to cover the troubled situation of Ukraine’s 155th 'Anne de Kyiv' brigade, which was trained by France, and then saw large numbers of desertions. The Ukrainian high command is now stepping in to salvage the unit after chaotic combat engagement and management errors led to military personnel leaving their units without permission, Liberation explains in an extensive report. Major-general Mykhailo Drapaty, a rising star in Ukraine's military, has been tasked with addressing the situation, emphasising that no country has ever attempted such mobilisation under similar difficult conditions. Despite challenges, the brigade continues fighting and receiving additional drone support. (Liberation)

In the small French village of Cazilhac in the county of Aude, a heartwarming story of integration unfolds. Of the 42 Ukrainian refugees who arrived in 2022, twelve remain, building new lives while grappling with the trauma of war. The story highlights Olena, who found love with Jean-François, a bus driver who evacuated refugees from Ukraine, and how they are building a house. Local support is strong, with the mayor helping secure jobs and Karine, a resident, teaching French to the refugees five times a week. Despite challenges with language, these refugees are choosing to stay in France. (France Info)

Italy

Zelensky in Italy to open a gateway to Trump

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky held talks in Rome with Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, after meeting with other allies in Germany. According to Il Sole 24 Ore, Zelensky’s goal is to create a bridge towards the Trump era in the US through Italy and its prime minister (Il Sole 24 Ore). "The support of the United States is very important" but "Europe must be autonomous", Zelensky said in a TV interview with Rainews24. "We want America to put pressure on Russia and give Ukraine and Europe guarantees" that "Putin will not return", Zelensky added. (Rainews24)

The issue of missing Ukrainians kidnapped and often imprisoned by Russia has caught the attention of the press. The Catholic newspaper Avvenire writes about Ukrainian children deported by Russians, and says that for the first time Moscow and Kyiv are close to an agreement. In 2024, 449 children transferred to Moscow’s institutions have already returned to Ukraine. In the Kherson region, 246 minors returned to their families last year (Avvenire). In Crimea, almost all the pro-Ukrainian activists have disappeared since 2014. KrymSOS, a Crimean NGO, collects the list of people who are still missing or who disappeared and were later found dead, and also of people who were kidnapped and then released. (La Stampa)

New "sad traditions" in the everyday life of Ukrainians are under focus in Linkiesta. One of the most recent is the habit of taking to the streets of Ukrainian cities on weekends to support Ukrainian military prisoners held in Russia. These demonstrations are organised by the Association of Families of Defenders of Azovstal. In addition to the prisoners' families, these events often include actors, singers and comedians who try to bring more attention to the plight of the prisoners. (Linkiesta)

Bulgaria

Nationalists call for the annexation of Ukrainian Bessarabia

The Ukrainian embassy in Sofia has protested against the recent statements of Kostadin Kostadinov, leader of 'Vazrazhdane', the main Bulgarian nationalist and pro-Russian party, which came third in the last elections in October 2024. Kostadinov expressed support for the statements by US president-elect Donald Trump, in which he called for the annexation of Canada, Greenland and Panama, by adding his own list of targets for Bulgaria: North Macedonia and southern Bessarabia, a Ukrainian region with a significant Bulgarian minority. According to the embassy, ​​such statements are "unacceptable from an EU politician" and they show Kostadinov's "consistent support for the Kremlin's narratives." (OFFNews)

Russia claims Ukraine attempted to attack the infrastructure of the 'TurkStream' gas pipeline, which connects Russia to Turkey and Bulgaria via the Black Sea, reports Mediapool. The drone attack was aimed at a compressor station in the Krasnodar region, but was foiled, according to Russian sources. With the failure to renew the agreements between Ukraine and Russia on gas transit, TurkStream is the only Russian gas pipeline supplying EU countries. For Bulgaria, it remains a strategic energy infrastructure, despite Sofia's efforts to limit energy dependence on Russia (Mediapool)

The ministries of education of Bulgaria and Ukraine have signed a memorandum of understanding which allows the continuation of education in the Bulgarian language in Ukrainian schools, and offers a privileged channel for Ukrainian students of Bulgarian origin who want to enroll in a university in Bulgaria. Bulgarian minister Galin Tsokov reiterated his intention to welcome Ukrainian students to Bulgaria, regardless of their ethnic background, who in recent years have integrated with great success into the Bulgarian education system. (BNR)

Germany 

Aid billions to Ukraine issue sees split in Government

German defence minister Boris Pistorius travelled to Kyiv on 14 January for talks with Ukraine’s government on further aid and to assess the military situation. "I want to show that we continue to support Ukraine actively," Pistorius told dpa. Coming from a NATO meeting with Poland, France, Italy and the UK, Pistorius emphasised plans to invest more in Ukraine’s defence industry. His visit comes as Germany debates reducing its aid budget to four billion euros. Pistorius reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to Ukraine, stating that military and economic support remains crucial in countering Russian aggression and securing stability in Europe. (Die Zeit)

Dispute has broken out within the German government over additional military aid for Ukraine. Despite mounting challenges on the frontline and a proposed three billion euros support package from defence minister Pistorius and foreign minister Annalena Baerbock, chancellor Olaf Scholz is resisting the expansion of Germany’s aid to Ukraine. A FAZ commentary highlights how Scholz has pledged to support Ukraine "as long as necessary," yet remains vague on specifics, raising questions about his priorities. "What does he fear more: accusations of increasing debt or being labelled a 'war chancellor' by [parties against military support for Ukraine] AfD and BSW?” asks commentator Berthold Kohler. (FAZ)

Ukrainian president Zelensky visited Germany on 9 January for talks on further military aid ahead of the US presidential transition. The meeting took place in the Ramstein format, a regular meeting organised by the US since 2022, bringing together NATO allies and defence leaders to coordinate military aid. Zelenksy urged the strengthening of Ukraine's air defence, stressing the importance of continued support and met German defence minister Pistorius, US defence secretary Lloyd Austin and other key officials. The visit aimed to secure final military assistance before the new US administration takes office. (Tagesspiegel)

Hungary

If the EU can manage without Russian gas, why are prices rising?

Following the closure of the Ukrainian branch of the Brotherhood gas pipeline which transported gas from Russia to central Europe, industry analysts say there is still enough gas in the market, so why are prices rising? Experts told Válasz Online this is because investors have driven up prices on the Dutch gas exchange with huge forward orders. Most analysts expect that, in 2025, large LNG production capacities will be in place in the US and Qatar, and even an oversupply could develop, so this situation will not be repeated next winter. The article points out that Europe's move away from Russian gas has been faster than expected, with Hungary now the only country whose energy mix is dominated by Russian energy. (Válaszonline)

Russian forces have been making mass arrests of civilians, including priests, in the occupied Ukrainian cities. The Greek Catholic pastor Bohdan Heleta was abducted by the invaders on 16 November 2022 and was released on 28 June 2024. He was accused of "terrorism", including hiding weapons, and was told he was sentenced to 25 years in prison, although his case never came to trial. He has been beaten and tortured, he tells EUD-fellows Inna Varenica and József Makai, in an article supported by n-ost. (Átlátszó)

Although Hungary is facing labour shortages in some sectors, very few Ukrainian refugees are seeking asylum to take up these jobs. This compares unfavourably to the Czech Republic, which has received the largest number of refugees in the EU relative to the country's population. In economic terms their integration is a success story, according to Alen Kovacevic, head of the Integration Centre Prague. However, the secret in many cases is that Ukrainian labour is cheaper. "Some sectors would indeed find it difficult to function without Ukrainian labour. They work for less than a Czech," Kovacevic explains. (24.hu)

Spain

Spain ends sale of residence visas, which mainly benefit Russians

Golden visas, which allowed foreigners to obtain Spanish residency in exchange for investments of 500,000 euros, have been abolished by the Spanish government and will no longer be available starting April this year. According to InfoLibre, Madrid has quadrupled the number of permits granted to wealthy Russians since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with 14,179 issued in 2023 alone — making Russians the largest group of recipients. The government has reportedly sought to keep this information under wraps, ignoring transparency requests from the press and institutions such as the Transparency Council. (InfoLibre)

"The Camino de Santiago is like a mirror reflecting yourself," says Ivan, a 51-year-old Ukrainian army veteran, of the pilgrim’s way in northern Spain. He has walked the 800-kilometre original route twice — first after serving as a volunteer in the war in Donbas, and again after the full-scale Russian invasion, during which he was injured, and had to undergo rehabilitation. Ukrainian journalist Lesya Kesarchuk shares Ivan’s story in El Confidencial. This human interest report delves into Ivan’s deep connection with the UNESCO-protected pilgrimage, and highlights the sacrifices that millions of Ukrainians have endured over the past 11 years. (El Confidencial)

Russian gas stopped flowing through Ukrainian territory on 1 January, sparking significant discussion on price increases and the consequences for consumers in Spain, as 21.2 percent of the country’s liquefied natural gas imports come from Russia. Spanish energy companies now purchase twice as much gas from Russia as they did before the full-scale invasion (El País). In an editorial, the newspaper defends Kyiv’s decision to cut off supplies to central Europe via Ukraine, acknowledging that “it will cause challenges, but represents the right strategic direction”. (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, Katarina Kukla, Clara Marchaud, Oksana Mamchenkova, Francesco Martino, Antonina Rybka and Fermin Torrano. Michael Bird was our proofreader.

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