This Week in Ukraine: Is the West Turning Its Back on Ukraine as Russia Ramps Up Support?

As Ukraine’s front line struggles under Russian assault, Kyiv’s efforts are increasingly hampered by dwindling supplies and limited Western support. Ukraine has received only a fraction of the military aid promised by the United States. Meanwhile, other key allies, including Germany and France, face political gridlock on possible alternative funding. Meanwhile, Russia has opened the door to North Korean support in a development that NATO's Mark Rutte calls ‘a dangerous expansion of Russia’s war.’

This evolving North Korea-Russia alliance is shifting the war’s dynamics. Around 8,000 North Korean troops are now stationed in Russia, and more deployments are reportedly on the way. For Ukraine, it’s a dire warning that further international intervention is urgent. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticised the West’s inaction, stating that foreign military presence will only continue to escalate. And it’s not just boots on the ground – Russia and North Korea recently signed a technology cooperation deal, sparking concerns that Pyongyang may soon gain access to Russian nuclear tech. 

Despite these warnings, the EU’s own defence resources remain tangled in bureaucratic red tape. A Hungarian veto is blocking the EU Peace Facility, freezing over €6 billion in aid for Ukraine. Meanwhile, Kyiv continues its uphill battle against supply shortages, looking to establish local production lines through Germany’s Rheinmetall, which plans to open four new arms plants in Ukraine. Nordic nations have endorsed Zelenskyy’s ‘victory plan,’ but tangible support from key European partners remains limited.

On another front, Ukraine has reportedly begun preliminary talks with Russia to limit strikes on each other’s energy infrastructure, hoping to avoid another winter of devastating power outages. While diplomatic overtures are a hopeful sign, this dialogue underscores Ukraine’s precarious position – dependent on its own negotiation tactics and ingenuity as global powers hold back on decisive action.

Can Ukraine sustain its defences against a Russia emboldened by North Korean support? Is the West’s commitment waning as new allies strengthen Moscow?

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