Russia Is Trying To Weaken Ukraine Through Its Key Partners — Expert

An expert on democratic governance, security policy, and strategic forecasting has warned that Russia is attempting to weaken Ukraine through its partners, namely the United States and Europe. According to Olena Davlikanova, a senior associate fellow at the Sahaidachnyi Security Center, Russia is not seeking genuine peace. Despite being stuck at the front line for years and losing territory, Russia has realized the need to strike from the rear, with Europe and the United States being particularly vulnerable.

The expert believes that Russia's ongoing campaign is currently succeeding in the United States, potentially threatening Ukraine's access to crucial resources like Starlink and intelligence sharing. Davlikanova hopes that the situation will change following the midterm elections in the United States, as there are supporters of Ukraine and opponents of cooperation with Russia in Washington.

She emphasizes the importance of European partners taking on more responsibility for their own security and continuing to provide financial and technological support to Ukraine. Davlikanova also highlights the necessity of engaging European societies, as their pacifist attitudes may not align with the realities of a world where Russia seeks to assert force.

The expert believes that part of civil society's role is to inform people about the risks Ukraine has been warning about for years. The delay between these warnings and their understanding has been shrinking, with the gap now reduced from two years to one. For now, Ukraine must rely on its European allies, as dependence on the United States may no longer be sufficient to secure Ukraine's future.