Is Europe for or against Ukraine?

Russia’s attempted invasion of Ukraine has completed its second week. During these two weeks, while Ukraine has been fighting for its very existence, the lack of any meaningful aid or support for Ukraine from NATO and the European Union countries, above all the US, continues to draw criticism not only from Ukrainians but from the whole world.

In his latest statement, Ukrainian President Zelensky, addressing NATO and the European Union in particular, reproached them: “How many more people must die for you to help?” So is the situation grave enough to warrant Zelensky’s reproach? Have the states and bodies that until yesterday declared unconditional support for Ukraine today gone no further than “condemning” Russia and announcing “economic sanctions”? If we examine this situation with regard to the European countries:

Germany

Germany, the boss of the EU, was one of the countries quickest to announce sanctions when the attempted invasion began. German Chancellor Scholz announced that the “Nord Stream 2” project, which was to carry Russian gas to Europe, had been suspended. In addition, a package of 5 million euros was announced in support of Ukraine. However, it emerged that this sum would be given for use in a field hospital.

In the following days the German government decided to send 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger missiles from the German army’s stocks to support the Ukrainian army. It was claimed that the Russian-made Strela anti-aircraft missiles planned to be sent to Ukraine were 35 years old and that initial checks had found them not to be in working order.

France

In France, the EU’s second-largest economy, the situation makes one miss Germany. Besides fuel support for Ukraine, it was also decided to supply defence equipment. Stating that planning for the weapons and military equipment to be sent to Ukraine was continuing, it was said: “As you can imagine, shipping equipment to the region is a difficult process at the moment.” It was also announced that national measures would be taken to freeze the financial assets of Russian oligarchs.

Switzerland

Switzerland, which is not an EU member but is one of Europe’s leading countries, has not taken sides in any developments so far, including wars, owing to its “neutrality”. Switzerland, which had remained “neutral” in Russia’s attempted invasion of Ukraine, sided with Ukraine, stating that the developments “revived the painful memories of the Second World War”. Switzerland, also known as a “tax haven”, decided to freeze more than 11 billion dollars of assets belonging to Russian companies and individuals.

The United Kingdom

The United Kingdom, which left the EU by referendum a few years ago, announced that it would provide 40 million pounds of humanitarian aid to Ukraine. It was stated that this aid would be given for the purchase of vital and medical supplies. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in his latest statement: “Ukrainians cannot enter Britain uncontrolled.”

Italy

Italy, which will not provide any direct aid to Ukraine, announced that it had allocated 10 million euros to organise aid for Ukrainians coming to the country and to host them in Italy. Italy reported that it had seized yachts and real estate worth 143 million euros belonging to Russian oligarchs.

Is Europe Shooting Itself in the Foot?

Putting all this together, we can say that Ukraine has been left to its fate against Russia. If the attempted invasion succeeds, Russia will have reached the borders of Europe. It is surely not an exaggeration to say that Putin, who sees the collapse of the Soviet Union as a mistake, dreams of incorporating Berlin as well.

Under normal circumstances, Ukraine’s struggle against Russia should also be the struggle of the European Union. Indeed, they should have motivated Ukraine against Russia with military and economic aid. But at the point we have reached, we see a Europe that has given way to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in a controlled manner.

With this attitude, Europe will promise nothing to other countries and will go no further than offering comfort to its own citizens. If Ukraine had chosen Russia rather than the West, European countries would probably have spent dozens of times their small aid to turn Ukraine towards the West.

Scholz’s Germany, which announced that 35-year-old unusable missiles would be sent to Ukraine, and the other European countries, when they face the problem of Ukrainian refugees in the short term and the Russian threat at their borders in the long term, will criticise the past on the one hand and discuss increasing defence spending against a possible Russian invasion on the other. (Update note, November 2026: In the period that followed, the EU and its member states provided Ukraine with tens of billions of euros in military and financial aid. Germany became one of the largest providers of military aid after the US.)