By tf-lawyer.com Following a recent attack by Russia on Mykolaiv, Ukraine, on October 15th, a building was engulfed in flames. Elina Valtonen, Finland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, expressed concern to the Financial Times about the growing fatigue among Western nations regarding support for Ukraine. She highlighted that many countries are increasingly hoping for some form of resolution to the conflict and urged other Western foreign ministers to double their efforts in assisting Kyiv.
The FT’s Europe Express column noted that since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022, President Vladimir Putin has committed to continuing the war of attrition in Eastern Ukraine. Currently, Russian forces occupy around one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, and some Western officials have started to discuss possible ceasefire options privately.
Valtonen acknowledged the reality of this fatigue, stating, “It’s true, and it’s becoming more pronounced.” She noted that ongoing conflicts in the Middle East have shifted focus and resources. “For example, issues in the Middle East dominated discussions at the UN General Assembly in September. While these two conflicts are closely related, it’s crucial for us Europeans to recognize that permitting a Russian victory in Ukraine fundamentally undermines our deterrence credibility.”
She further questioned, “Ukraine has support, but what constitutes enough? That’s the crux of the issue. Many nations are eager to believe that if we can find a solution to the war initiated by Russia, it would be fantastic—especially as the war in the Middle East persists.”
Valtonen also stressed the need for Western nations to tighten sanctions aimed at crippling the Russian economy, particularly given the rise of Russia’s “shadow fleet.” This fleet, composed of uninsured tankers, is employed to circumvent oil sale restrictions. “These uninsured substandard ships are evading price caps and also pose environmental risks, particularly in the Baltic Sea. We are genuinely concerned, and much more should absolutely be done,” she said.
In a related report, The New York Times revealed that Russia has recaptured several villages in western Kursk Oblast that had been invaded by Ukraine over the summer, jeopardizing Ukrainian control of the occupied areas, which Kyiv views as critical leverage in negotiations with Moscow to end the war.
Russian military actions have intensified recently, with forces pushing Ukrainian troops out of the occupied areas in Kursk Oblast through several armored assaults. Independent groups, utilizing satellite imagery and combat footage to map the battlefield, have indicated that Russian forces have advanced into the western flank of the Ukrainian protrusion, reclaiming at least three villages.
According to the war mapping website DeepState, which has close ties with Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, “Overall, the situation in Kursk is not looking good. The Ukrainian military is taking stabilizing measures, but regaining lost ground is extremely challenging.”
Emil Kastehelmi, a military analyst from Finland’s Black Bird Group, commented, “Russia’s counteroffensive is steadily diminishing the political significance of the areas controlled by Ukraine in Kursk. If this trend continues, Ukrainians may need to reconsider their presence in the region and the future of the entire operation.”
