| Author (Person) | Kobzova, Jana |
|---|---|
| Publisher | European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) |
| Series Title | Commentary |
| Series Details | 15.07.16 |
| Publication Date | 15/07/2016 |
| Content Type | Journal | Series | Blog, News |
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Kyiv is making a dangerous mistake in confusing western solidarity with unconditional support for the Ukrainian government and its policies. At some point, sanctions will be partly lifted, despite the sad fact that the ceasefire exists on paper only, with reports of casualties coming in on a daily basis. The Minsk agreements have not been implemented and are unlikely to be fulfilled any time soon. Still, the intra-EU debate about the cost of sanctions on the EU's own economies has been gathering pace. Western willingness to underwrite Ukraine will decrease over time, too, if Kyiv does not deliver on reforms. The government has six months, possibly a year, to demonstrate that it has the will to turn the country around, and it is not clear that Kyiv understands this. There is a real risk that it will compound the damage wrought by Russia by also forfeiting support from the West. If Ukraine fails to shed the image of a country that is merely muddling through, it will increasingly struggle to find friends in Europe: then, while western solidarity might remain, its support will be gone. |
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| Source Link | Link to Main Source http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_western_solidarity_with_ukraine_do_it_yourself7078 |
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| Countries / Regions | Europe, Ukraine |
