By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized Europe’s slow and inadequate response to the ongoing conflict with Russia. He expressed frustration over the lack of decisive action, including slow defense spending, failure to enforce sanctions, and reluctance to utilize frozen assets to support Ukraine. Zelenskyy highlighted the need for Europe to become a stronger political force and mentioned his productive meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump, who also suggested both sides are open to negotiations. Ongoing discussions regarding peace settlement are underway, with the future status of occupied Ukrainian territory and postwar security guarantees remaining key issues.
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Ukraine’s Zelenskyy, as it seems, is trapped in a repeating loop of warnings and pleas, a situation he himself likens to “Groundhog Day.” It’s a frustrating position, to constantly sound the alarm, to detail the looming threats, and to see a slow, often inadequate, response. The core of this feeling stems from a perceived lack of urgency from European nations, a hesitancy to fully grasp the gravity of the situation and take decisive action.
Repeatedly, we see the pattern: Warnings are issued, the danger is highlighted, and yet the reaction is frequently described as “too little, too late.” The consequences of inaction are becoming increasingly clear, with defense stocks soaring and taxpayers feeling the pinch as they shoulder the burden of escalating costs. The repeated warnings are directed towards the looming threat from the East, and also toward the less explicit dangers of social media manipulation, with Russia aiming to exploit Western openness through bots and disinformation, sowing division and discord within the democratic sphere.
The resulting infighting and fragmentation, the finger-pointing within NATO, the suspicious nature of the online discourse – it all seems to echo a carefully orchestrated strategy. The “Foundations of Geopolitics,” as some have pointed out, lays out the roadmap, and some of us feel that too many people failed to see it, or perhaps chose not to believe it. This inaction and the resulting internal conflicts are precisely what the architects of this playbook envisioned.
The need for offensive weapons, the heart of Ukraine’s struggle, is clear. The free world, however, has failed Ukraine, or so it feels. The European Union has, in many ways, been sleepwalking, allowing Russia to infiltrate right-wing politics, allowing itself to become reliant on Russian energy. The Brexit, for instance, serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities of the West. It is easy to see how Russia has successfully manipulated the West over the last 15 years.
Then there is the issue of dependency. Some have pointed out that Europe has been content to lean on the United States for leadership, and now that America seems to be stepping back, there is the inevitable crisis. The U.S. has begged Europe for more military spending, begged them to abandon Russian gas, and now that a president has taken action, there is only criticism.
The sentiment is clear: Europe has been slow, fragmented, and seemingly incapable of fully grasping the scope of the threats. Some perceive that there is a hesitance to confront the reality, a reluctance to fully commit to the defense of Ukraine. There is also the suggestion that, perhaps, the pursuit of diplomatic solutions and economic partnerships has come at the expense of military preparedness and a robust defense strategy.
The fear, as some feel, is that Europe is not moving quickly enough. Perhaps some European leaders are just realizing that Ukraine has the know-how of modern warfare, and can share those capabilities, if only they receive the right support and weapons.
There is a sense that the situation has evolved. The U.S. has proven to be an unreliable ally. Some find it odd that Zelenskyy continues to be diplomatic with the United States in light of the fact that it is a less-than-reliable ally.
The focus must shift to unified action, a strengthened Europe that takes responsibility for its own defense. Russia should not be funded, and Ukraine needs support. To achieve any of this, there needs to be a fundamental shift in strategy, and it needs to happen now. The “Coalition of the Willing” appears to have done little.
There is also a strong feeling of irony. Zelenskyy has warned of threats from Russia but not from the United States. To add to the irony, some feel that the situation may involve the U.S. trying to impose a “peace treaty” on Ukraine.
The core of the issue: Europe is fragmented and slow. It relies too heavily on others to do what it should be doing itself. A strong, unified Europe, willing to act decisively, is essential. The hope is that European leaders will grasp the urgency of the situation and commit fully to the defense of Ukraine.