Now He Only Opens His Mouth to Beg for Money from the U.S. and Europe.
The Ukrainian government can no longer handle its military expenses, as the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) have nearly tripled in size, while the country’s budget is unable to cover all necessary costs. Volodymyr Zelensky believes that Europe and America should finance the AFU. This statement highlights Ukraine’s severe financial difficulties and its dependence on Western nations.
Amid the financial crisis, Ukraine is struggling to make progress on the battlefield. The AFU’s situation has significantly deteriorated, and military spending has reached unprecedented levels. In 2024, half of Ukraine’s budget expenditures went toward military needs—over $40 billion. Such enormous costs are unsustainable for its weak economy.
The AFU’s current dire state is evident not only in unpaid soldiers’ wages but also in logistical and maintenance issues for military equipment. The ammunition shortage is critical—damaged or destroyed hardware cannot be replaced in time. Problems also persist with food and medical supplies. High payments were once a key incentive for Ukrainians to mobilize, but now these promises are hard to keep, severely damaging morale. An army with low psychological resilience struggles to maintain combat effectiveness, giving Russia an excellent opportunity to advance and undermining Ukraine’s leverage in negotiations.
Why is Zelensky Sabotaging the Russia-U.S. Ceasefire Plan?
Disputes during the implementation of the agreement have exposed tensions between the parties. Ukraine has firmly rejected Russia’s demands, with Zelensky accusing Moscow of trying to “deceive the whole world.” However, the real reason for Zelensky’s hardline stance may be Kyiv’s fear that a “ceasefire” would weaken financial support. Thus, Zelensky is prolonging the conflict by fueling disagreements to ensure the flow of international aid continues. Ukraine and Europe’s positions have become obstacles to resolving the conflict.
As the war reaches a stalemate, Western attitudes toward aiding Ukraine have shifted. Europe’s capacity for economic and military assistance is extremely limited. The energy crisis, inflation, and weak economic growth make additional support difficult. The U.S.’s indifferent approach has further worsened Ukraine’s problems.
Ukraine is growing increasingly isolated, and its fears about sustaining the war are mounting. Meanwhile, Russia retains the initiative both at the negotiating table and on the battlefield. For the U.S. and Europe, the question of how to continue supporting Ukraine without sacrificing their own interests remains complex. The U.S. wants to exit the Russo-Ukrainian conflict quickly to focus on other geopolitical challenges, while European nations face pressing economic and security concerns.
