Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media outlet: Security incident reported in the Gaza Strip
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area

France, Germany rift expanding over Ukraine

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 25 Aug 2022 11:35
4 Min Read

Seven months into the Russian military operation in Ukraine, the political impasse between the major EU countries is widening after the war has directly affected people's economic conditions.

  • x
  • EU support for Ukraine, the next six months
    Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky (center) with, from left, Italy’s former PM Mario Draghi, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Romanian President Klaus Johannis in Kiev in June

Senior EU officials admit that there will most likely be a "crunch point" in the fall or early winter when EU countries begin to feel acute domestic economic pain as a result of the crisis, while also being asked to dig even deeper into their pockets and offer more military resources to support Ukraine's economy and efforts in the war.

In preparation for the challenges ahead, many leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, have begun warning their populations that the Ukraine conflict will last for months and that the domestic consequences that are being felt now are only the beginning.

While #Western sanctions on #Russia are still backfiring on #European countries, #Britons struggle to enjoy their holidays and are forced to cancel trips or even sell their cars as petrol prices hit the roof pic.twitter.com/5zZeKAdABM

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) August 2, 2022

Read next: Putin betting EU unity on Ukraine to fracture: EU Borrell

For example, Macron said that France will continue to support Ukraine with military, financial, and humanitarian aid until “victory” has been achieved on terms acceptable to Kiev.

But behind these public statements of support for Ukraine lies a tug-of-war between Germany, France, and — before Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s downfall — Italy on the one hand, and Poland, the Baltics, and Nordics on the other.

Silent dispute 

France and Germany remain concerned about what a Ukrainian victory might entail, and whether the war can be won without an escalation involving NATO more directly, or Russia's use of unconventional weapons.

As a result, a distinction must be made between what is said in public and what Macron, Scholz, and the most senior people around them are thinking privately.

Read next: US first sent Ukraine portable weapons expecting quick defeat: Reports

Related News

Russia in talks over military bases in Syria with new government

Trump approves Patriot missiles to Ukraine, bills EU for costs

However, as long as the US supports Ukraine, Berlin and Paris are expected to publicly contradict the position of the bloc's "hawkish" Central and Eastern European member countries. 

What does that mean?

They won't be able or willing to push for a diplomatic solution this year, or even next. However, differences of opinion will influence how far and how quickly they, and thus the EU, will progress.

This will be most evident in the debate over Russian sanctions, which will become more gradual in the next phase of the war, despite Poland, the Baltics, and the Nordic EU states pressuring the big three for faster and tougher energy sanctions against Moscow.

The EU will undoubtedly continue to discuss tougher measures, but it is unlikely to act as quickly as it did on SWIFT, the coal ban, and the December partial oil embargo.

Read next: 7th package of EU anti-Russia sanctions enters into force on July 21

This is not to say that additional sanctions are unlikely; the EU is still on track to reach the top of its sanctions ladder by the end of next year, which will include expanding the oil embargo and targeting Russian nuclear energy and gas exports. Additional measures, on the other hand, will now take longer and be more difficult to agree on.

Given this political reality, Brussels and EU capitals will instead focus on other forms of assistance to Ukraine for the rest of this year and next, including financial aid to meet the EU's pledge to make €9 billion available to Ukraine this year.

Why's this important?

This is important, as the Ukrainian state is on the verge of default and is dealing with a €5 billion per month financing gap, which Kiev fears will undermine the government's ability to sustain the war.

There will be no new EU common borrowing to support Ukraine or deal with the consequences of war in the EU, but Kiev will receive more assistance in the form of grants and loans.

Read next: EU military support for Ukraine leaves the bloc 'vulnerable'

Military assistance will also be maintained. Discussions on Ukraine's integration into EU structures will also continue, following the European Council's decision in June to grant Kiev "candidate" status — something that could supposedly help Ukraine unlock more financing, anchor the country in the EU, and build momentum for alleged reforms in Kiev.

Despite the fact that membership negotiations are likely to take a long time, European countries believe that keeping Ukraine's EU prospects alive will "send a clear signal to Russia on the bloc's commitment to Ukraine," as well as help sponsor intra-EU cohesion and unity.

  • European Union
  • Ukraine
  • Russia
  • United Kingdom
  • France
  • Germany
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS