https://en.sputniknews.africa/20250303/europes-political-posturing-wont-sustain-ukraines-war-effort-sa-professor-believes-1070921682.html
Europe’s ‘Political Posturing’ Won’t Sustain Ukraine’s War Effort, SA Professor Believes
Europe’s ‘Political Posturing’ Won’t Sustain Ukraine’s War Effort, SA Professor Believes
Sputnik Africa
European leaders held an informal summit in London on Sunday to discuss Ukraine and European security. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that US support is... 03.03.2025, Sputnik Africa
2025-03-03T18:10+0100
2025-03-03T18:10+0100
2025-03-03T18:10+0100
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As the conflict in Ukraine drags on, European leaders continue to voice support for Kiev, but this is little more than political posturing, Dr. Oscar van Heerden, Senior research fellow at the center for African diplomacy and leadership, University of Johannesburg, told Sputnik Africa.Without full backing from the United States, he argued, Europe lacks the means to sustain the war effort.Dr. van Heerden suggested that Western leaders are clinging to their support for Ukraine out of ideological loyalty rather than strategic feasibility.Meanwhile, he noted, Ukraine is facing mounting battlefield losses, ammunition shortages, and mass surrenders, painting a dire picture of the country's future.Ultimately, he believes Ukraine's fate is sealed, with Russia dictating the terms of the conflict’s conclusion.With the Trump administration shows a diplomatic shift toward Moscow, Dr. van Heerden suggested that Europe may soon have to face the reality of a post-war settlement shaped by Russian, rather than Western, terms.
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Europe’s ‘Political Posturing’ Won’t Sustain Ukraine’s War Effort, SA Professor Believes
Christina Glazkova
Writer / Editor
European leaders held an informal summit in London on Sunday to discuss Ukraine and European security. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that US support is needed for security guarantees for Ukraine. This meeting followed the recent collapse of peace talks between Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump.
As the conflict in Ukraine drags on, European leaders continue to voice support for Kiev, but this is little more than political posturing, Dr. Oscar van Heerden, Senior research fellow at the center for African diplomacy and leadership, University of Johannesburg, told Sputnik Africa.
Without full backing from the United States, he argued,
Europe lacks the means to sustain the war effort.
“The European Union knows that they are not going to be able to continue this war effort against Russia without the emphatic support of the United States,” he explained, adding that recent pledges of increased defense spending are largely symbolic.
Dr. van Heerden suggested that Western leaders are clinging to their support for Ukraine out of
ideological loyalty rather than strategic feasibility.
“What we are seeing from the Europeans is political posturing. They are still wanting to somehow lend support to Zelensky because it is in keeping with the liberal project. But the truth of the matter, unfortunately, they are not going to be able to sustain the war,” he asserts.
Meanwhile, he noted, Ukraine is facing mounting
battlefield losses, ammunition shortages, and mass surrenders, painting a dire picture of the country's future.
Ultimately, he believes Ukraine's fate is sealed, with
Russia dictating the terms of the conflict’s conclusion.
“Unfortunately, this is the end game. The war is going to end, and it's not going to be on the Kiev demands. It's not going to be on the European demands. It is going to be on the demands of the winner, and that is Russia,” he stated.
With the Trump administration shows a diplomatic shift toward Moscow, Dr. van Heerden suggested that Europe may soon have to face the reality of a post-war settlement shaped by Russian, rather than Western, terms.
