Curtailing aid to Ukraine will only prolong the war, Mr Zelensky argues. And it would create risks for the West in its own backyard. There is no way of predicting how the millions of Ukrainian refugees in European countries would react to their country being abandoned. Ukrainians have generally “behaved well” and are “very grateful” to those who sheltered them. They will not forget that generosity. But it would not be a “good story” for Europe if it were to “drive these people into a corner”.
Oof. “Subtly” threatening allies that the refugees they accepted (usually with very generous arrangements to make it easier to get in) might become a threat unless Ukraine receives continuing support doesn’t sound like a smart move.
But it’s not exactly a threat is it? It’s a very reasonable observation about how Ukrainian refugees might feel and behave.
Wouldn’t you feel the same way? Your country gets invaded, you flee to a generous supporting friendly country. That country stops being supporting, and your chances to return home start to vanish. You didn’t choose to be here. Now you’re stuck in a foreign country that you feel could be doing more to fight injustice and give you a chance to return home.
He’s the president of a democracy, not a mind controller. People will feel a certain way. He’s simply observing this potential situation, as a warning to the allies not to slide into complacency.
That’s the story for virtually every refugee in existence, the vast majority getting zero support. The USA has created tens of millions of them in the past few years. Which terrorist acts have they committed?
“It’s completely reasonable to attack your benefactors!” What the fuck is wrong with you?
You didn’t choose to be here. Now you’re stuck in a foreign country that you feel could be doing more to fight injustice and give you a chance to return home.
Couldn’t this part apply to most of the world’s refugees?
Yeah but most of the world’s refugees get less tv coverage.
Sure, but it really makes refugees that are still residents in a resident country ungrateful jerks and Xenophobic bastards will spread this rhetoric like butter…
It’s not even subtle. “We’re very grateful for the aid, but if you stop helping us, who knows what might happen to you?” is a damn threat. I’m actually pretty disappointed in him for that one.
He’s stating the obvious. It’s no more threatening than saying you’ll burn your hand if you touch the hot stove.
Is it still tone deaf? Absolutely.
Their government has been trying to keep the issue of aid in the public interest for a reason. Sometimes they might go too far, but I think people underestimate the fear a country would experience if they were highly dependent on outside help. Especially if it wasn’t guaranteed to continue due to changes in the political leadership in the other countries.
That’s a weird thing to say. I’d be more worried about whether the refugees will want to go back after the war, to help rebuild the country, or stay in their new lives. As refugees, they may or may not have a choice, but on the other hand, countries might want the skilled workers. The longer the war goes on, the more established they could become elsewhere.
I don’t think that many would want to go back. Ukraine is a corrupt shithole.
