EU ambassador names conditions needed to end war
Photo: Katarína Mathernová (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Russia must finally realize that the war in Ukraine must end not on its terms, but on terms acceptable to both sides, stated Katarína Maternová, the European Union’s ambassador to Ukraine.
"Russia is losing momentum. Ukraine is starting to push back hard. Moscow needs to finally understand that it is time to end this war. But not on terms dictated by the Kremlin. On terms both sides can accept," she wrote.
Mathernová noted that she rarely writes about Ukraine’s attacks on Russia, adding that on the night of May 17, Kyiv carried out one of its largest drone attacks.
"In recent months, Ukraine has significantly intensified its attacks on military targets deep inside Russian territory, as their technological capacities. Russian authorities reported hundreds of drones over the Moscow region, damage to strategic buildings and chaos at airports," the ambassador noted.
She stressed that Russia is incapable of defeating Ukraine on the battlefield, as it is running out of soldiers, motivation, and endurance.
"And because it is losing on the frontline, it is increasing its attacks on civilians," Mathernová stated.
It is worth noting that recent data showed trust in Vladimir Putin among Russians has fallen to its lowest level since the start of the full-scale war. Even official polls confirm this.
Russia’s economy contracted by 0.3% in the first quarter of 2026, while Belarus’ economy shrank by 0.4%. Both countries started the year with optimistic growth forecasts, but the actual results turned out to be the opposite.
Russia is preparing a new mobilization of up to 300,000 people if it decides to continue the war for another one to two years. However, a final decision has not yet been made.
