This being the 31st anniversary of Ukraine’s independence from the old Soviet Union, as well as marking six months since Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked and savage invasion, minds in the West, and especially in Europe, are turning to what will be the outcome.
Can either side possibly “win” in the pure sense of inflicting full defeat on the other? When can it possibly end if neither side is anywhere near ready to talk with the other? How much pain is the West going to have to bear, especially in soaring energy costs, but also in major world shortages of foodstuffs, in order to keep the sanctions squeeze on Russia? How far can Putin be pushed before he presses the nuclear button — tactical or strategic?
It is questions like these that are rattling around Europe's chancelleries and leading, so some say, to a weakening of resolution to maintain support for Ukraine as the price of the conflict keeps rising and the European economy stops growing and grinds to a halt. The pessimists also point to the fact that the wider world is far from united against Russia, with only 39 countries out of 191 imposing sanctions on Russia.