Ukraine\u2019s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy was blunt when he addressed G7 leaders this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cRussia hopes only for one thing: that next year the free world\u2019s consolidation will collapse. Russia believes that America and Europe will show weakness, and will not maintain support for Ukraine,\u201d he said in a video call on Wednesday evening with his most important political allies.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe free world vitally needs to\u2009.\u2009.\u2009.\u2009maintain support for those whose freedom is being attacked,\u201d he said. \u201cUkraine has strength. And I ask you to be as strong as you can be.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zelenskyy\u2019s plea is not mere rhetoric. Hours after he spoke, the US Senate rejected the White House\u2019s latest bid to pass legislation authorising $60bn in financial support for Ukraine. Across the Atlantic, a European Commission proposal that would provide \u20ac50bn to prop up Kyiv\u2019s budget for the next four years hangs in the balance ahead of a summit of EU leaders next week, following months of bickering between member states over how to fund it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know from intelligence community assessments that Putin believes Ukraine will fall within just months without renewed US support,\u201d Mark Warner, the chair of the Senate intelligence committeehttps:\/\/t.co\/6XQyEOSHdF<\/a><\/p>\n — Adam Tooze (@adam_tooze) December 9, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n