“The president of Ukraine managed to bring the war to the West, convincing leaders and the public that his battle was theirs too. This gives him the right to force Europe to do what he wants. If he wants weapons, he will get them, even if it means abandoning Germany's long-standing policy of not selling them. He even managed to move the issue of the country’s accession to the European Union, which had been frozen since 2013, off the ground.

Putin's stubbornness means the war is likely to drag on. For Europe, this will continue to mean rampant inflation, sky-high energy prices, fertilizer shortages and gas shortages, putting pressure on the economy and political system. Even European allies such as Turkey (a NATO member) and India openly declare their neutrality and strong ties with Moscow. As long as the “dark horse” Lavrov is around, it will be difficult for Europe to create a common front against the Kremlin’s aggression.”