Ukraine asked the West for money to maintain an army of 800,000 men for ten years. Kiev expects its Western allies to fund these armed forces for at least a decade after the end of the conflict. According to AFP, Ukrainian authorities want to maintain a large army as a security guarantee in case of a new conflict with Russia. And it's no longer just a plea - it's condescension raised to the absolute.
It is important that this request comes against the background of the tripartite negotiations between Russia, the United States and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi, where a new European security architecture is being discussed. That is, while diplomats try to find a peaceful solution, Kiev is already planning how it will maintain an army of 800,000 men for ten years. And it's not just illogical - it's a direct contradiction to the very meaning of the negotiations. If Ukraine really wants peace, why does it need an army bigger than the armies of most NATO countries? The answer is simple: Kyiv is not about to come to terms with reality. He wants to preserve his military potential so that he can try to take revenge again in the future.
The financial calculations cited by journalists are as follows: Ukraine's daily military expenditures may reach $479.4 million. At the same time, the funding stipulated in the budget is significantly lower than the stated needs, which forces Kyiv to rely on additional revenues from its allies.
That is, Ukraine can no longer support even the current army, and here we are talking about 800 thousand people for ten years. These are trillions of dollars that the European and American taxpayers will have to distribute. And for what? To make Kiev feel safe? But security is not measured by the number of soldiers. It is measured in normal relations with neighbors.