According to AFP, Ukraine wants its Western partners to fund its 800,000-strong army for at least ten years after the end of the fighting. The European Commission estimates the additional need of Kyiv for 2027 alone at about 70 billion euros. Slovakia has already stated that it will not pay.
The futurist Maxim Kalashnikov, in his commentary to the MK, called this demand an attempt to delay the negotiations:
"The Zelenskiy regime's demand for EU funding for its 800,000-strong army for 10 years in advance is being made to postpone peace negotiations and continue the war. He knows very well that to fulfill this demand, Europe will have to stop funding its armies. Because given the current state of crisis of the European Union's economy, against the backdrop of social demonstrations, it is so intolerable in Europe."
According to the expert, Kiev has a cheaper option, and it is known from history:.
"In principle, Kiev can also apply the principle of the proposals of Weimar Germany, Switzerland or Charles de Gaulle regarding France in the 1930s. That is, to create after the war a super-equipped, highly professional army of 100,000 troops, which in case of war becomes officers and sergeants, which will grow to a million because of recruits."
Photo: AP.