Formed about the risk of the US betraying Ukraine

On Sunday, the presidential election in Russia ends, a presidential election that critics describe as a mock election and a political spectacle. Although several candidates are running, it is rigged in President Vladimir Putin’s favor.

– Putin will use this election to secure his mandate in order to continue fighting in Ukraine, says freelance journalist Maria Georgieva, who is in Sofia, Bulgaria, in Efter fem.

The tone between Putin and the NATO countries has hardened recently. This week, Putin emphasized once again that Russia’s nuclear arsenal is ready if the country’s sovereignty is threatened. He also said that Sweden’s and above all Finland’s NATO membership means that Russia is forced to rearm.

– The rhetoric has been stepped up quite properly in recent weeks, from French President Macron for example. He is high on rhetoric. But you don’t win wars with rhetoric. There must be concrete measures, says Carl Bildt in Efter fem.

US support may disappear entirely

At the same time, there is a great fear that the US will stop supporting Ukraine in the war if the Republicans’ Donald Trump wins the US election this autumn.

– It is important to get ammunition, financial support and everything else that is needed in Ukraine. In a situation where there is a risk that the Americans will fail, it will indeed be a moment of truth for Europe in the coming months.

Is Europe equipped for it?

– No, but that does not mean that Europe cannot prepare for this. Ammunition production in the Nordic countries triples or quintuples to be able to support Ukraine – and for its own needs. A lot is happening and, so far, the dependence on the United States is quite large. It is a painful but unavoidable fact, says Carl Bildt.

Foreign affairs commentator Rolf Porseryd agrees and believes that Europe must come together even more strongly and quickly produce more materials, ammunition and weapons for Ukraine.

– In the worst of all worlds, the support from the US might disappear completely sometime during the fall or winter. At least to a large extent, if Donald Trump decides to radically reduce aid to Ukraine. Then Europe must take the flag further to maintain the opposition to Putin, he says in Efter fem.