For the past several weeks, much of the world’s attention has been focused on an apparent Russian buildup of forces near the Ukrainian and Belarusian borders, raising fears that Moscow may be preparing for a new aggression against Ukraine this coming winter (see EDM, December 2). Questions remain whether this threat is real or a Kremlin bluff. But in a recent op-ed, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov warns the European Union about potential catastrophic repercussions for the West if Russia invades militarily. As he notes, a major war in Ukraine would plunge the whole of Europe into crisis, leading to the sudden appearance of between three million and five million Ukrainian refugees. Minister Reznikov nonetheless assures that the Ukrainian army is one of the strongest ground forces on the European continent, with more than 400,000 combat veterans ready to resist a full-scale invasion (112ua.tv, December 5). In the midst of this potential brewing external threat, however, Ukrainian political elites are presently bogged down in internal confrontations.
President Zelenskyy Confronts Top Ukrainian Oligarch – Jamestown
