Eighty percent of Ukrainians are not willing to give up their land in exchange for peace. That’s what Professor of Russian history and politics Hans van Koningsbrugge of the University of Groningen says in BNR’s Big Five. “Ukrainians are determined to defend their territory, their morale is always high.”
Van Koningsbrugge doesn’t think Russian rocket attacks like those on the Dnipro apartment block will affect or break Ukrainian morale. On the contrary. ‘Ukrainians’ morale is stronger than ever, the will to resist is only growing. Even if you have no electricity, even if you are sitting by candlelight, the Ukrainians are determined to defend their territory.”
‘Never’
According to Koningsbrugge, war is about two things: supply and morale. And that of Ukraine is high. The professor conducted a poll among Ukrainians asking if they are willing to give up the territory for peace. “Eighty percent say ‘never’. “There are very few doubts among Ukrainians and this is largely due to Zelensky. He gives a speech to his people about him every day. He holds things together and he does it very well.’
Listen to the full conversation with Van Koningsbrugge here
Fragmentation
And this contrasts sharply with the situation at the Russian summit where the various Kongs seem to want to outdo each other. Van Koningsbrugge also sees growing discord and fragmentation within the military administration, even as Putin remains unaffected. For now then. “At the moment, the elite is still behind Putin. Putin and his decisions are not discussed. He compares the Russian president to the misinformed king who finds himself surrounded by worthless advisers, a situation that cannot last long.
“At some point you become a victim too. Finally, there are also criticisms of the supreme commander. And this is Putin.’
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Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
