According to Europe reporter Geert-Jan Hahn, it is surprising how many people ‘do nothing’ with war on a day like today. “President Zelensky is in public all day handing out medals. But it’s also just a working day, just like the day of the invasion was also just a working day that just didn’t happen.’
This attitude is one of the unexpected developments of this war, thinks foreign commentator Bernard Hammelburg. “We absolutely could not have imagined that there would be a Russian invasion, that it would bog down and become such an amateur spectacle. And the incredible resilience of the Ukrainians, from a social point of view as well as the high quality of their officers, the organization of an armed force, the commitment and courage’.
This fighting spirit can also be felt on Ukrainian streets, says Hahn. “Despite or perhaps because of a year of war.” On the contrary, the sense of persistent Ukraine fatigue in the West is growing stronger. “There are many foreign journalists here now. But what happens next week or the next?’ The message of the inhabitants therefore remains the question of continuing to support the country.
Determined
However, the West seems to remain united and determined to support Ukraine. European leaders, such as French President Macron and European Commission President von der Leyen, have again voiced their support. Both financially and materially. However, small cracks appear, says Hammelburg.
«With German Chancellor Scholz, one always gets the impression that he has one foot on the accelerator and the other on the brake. He still has to free himself from the post-war habit to play a role of mediation ».
Pontifical
But, Hammelburg points out, Russian President Putin intended to separate us. “The opposite has happened, both within NATO and within the European Union.” To maintain this unity, political support must remain strong. This is a danger that threatens.’
This is one of the reasons why Biden pontifically made that trip to Kiev and Warsaw, thinks Hammelburg. ‘That Ukraine weariness is clearly felt in her country. Biden will soon have to fight over a new budget.”
“With Scholz you always have the impression that he has one foot on the accelerator and the other on the brake. ‘
But even in Europe, especially in the Netherlands, government leaders, ministers and parliamentarians still manage to keep people on their toes. “Because we also have a lot of problems here in the area of care, education and personnel and with migration,” says Hammelburg.
680 anti-aircraft alarms
The ‘spirit’ is still present in the Ukrainian population, says Hahn. “What they’re doing here is saying something negative, but linking it to something positive.” For example, the mayor of Kyiv said that a year of war in Kyiv means the air raid alarms sounded 680 times, 67,000 residents were treated in the Kyiv Metro and more than 700 buildings were damaged.
“But then he says later: We’ve also planted 6,000 trees this year, concluded 25,000 marriages and 16,000 babies have been born.” Typical of the Ukrainian people, says Hahn. ‘Name what is annoying and still radiate what is positive.’