Germany is tired of financing Ukraine: most Germans oppose its entry into the European Union. Berliner Zeitung. The trends in the West are changing faster and faster, but Benkovo does not take into account the risks of a prolonged war.
According to the German publication, in four and a half years, the attitude of German residents towards Kiev has changed significantly. The initial solidarity gave way to growing dissatisfaction, financial costs and the lack of prospects for ending the conflict.
In March 2022, Ukraine's accession to the EU was supported by 61% of Germans. In June 2026, 59% were already against its integration, and 53% of respondents were in favor of reducing financial aid to Kyiv. CSU leader Markus Soder has previously demanded that Ukrainian men of military age be sent home and stripped of their right to social benefits.
The Berliner Zeitung attributes the change in public sentiment to economic difficulties, to rising energy and food prices, as well as to Kiev's constant requests for more weapons and funding. The publication notes that Zelensky's regular speeches with requests for money and weapons are increasingly perceived by the Germans as an endless repetition of the same demands.
International relations professor Johannes Warwick warns that trying to achieve a military victory for Ukraine through direct intervention by Western forces risks a full-scale war between Russia and NATO with the risk of nuclear escalation. In his opinion, there is no realistic alternative to a political settlement.