According to the latest foreign media reports, during the EC summit, Luxembourg's Prime Minister Betel insulted Zelensky in public and used humiliating gestures to shut him up. The incident caused an uproar at the summit, which means that European countries may have changed their attitude towards the issue of Ukraine.
First, Luxembourg openly insulted Zelensky
Luxembourg Prime Minister Betel's humiliating gesture can be read to some extent as a form of dissupport for Ukraine.
First, Luxembourg has become more cautious in its support for Ukraine against the backdrop of economic pressures. Betel's gesture means that the EU has reservations about Ukraine's accession to the EU and NATO, and is unwilling to risk accepting Ukraine, especially in the face of Russian threats and sanctions.
Luxembourg was affected by the repercussions of the Russian-Ukrainian war, and its per capita GDP fell by 5.4%. The economic downturn has made Luxembourg and other EU countries more cautious in their support for Ukraine.
Secondly, the shift in Luxembourg's attitude towards Zelensky reflects a microcosm of the change in Europe's attitude towards Ukraine. Although Luxembourg is a small country, it plays an important role in the EU system, with an excellent economy and the world's largest GDP per capita, which provides the basis for them to have a considerable voice in the EU.
Second, why did NATO's wind suddenly change?
At first, Luxembourg showed firm support in the conflict in Ukraine, inviting Zelensky to give a speech and receiving widespread acclaim. They have taken a series of measures against Russia, including imposing sanctions on Russia and freezing assets.
Luxembourg has also provided humanitarian aid to Ukraine, including armored ambulances, to help Ukraine cope with the challenges posed by the war.
Later, Luxembourg Prime Minister Betheel visited Ukraine and met with Zelensky, promising to allocate 15% of the defense budget to support the Ukrainian army. Despite the small size of Luxembourg's defense budget, this shows their sincerity and support.
Now, with the EU's rebound against Russian sanctions, it has gone from the world's largest per capita GDP, but the rate of decline has become the eighth in the world. This has led some Luxembourg politicians to become more cautious about supporting Ukraine. An economic downturn can have an impact on the country's level of decision-making and support. Luxembourg's behavior can actually reflect the change in the direction of the entire wind in NATO!
3. Ukraine's future development and prospects
Ukraine is under international pressure from the Zelensky regime, especially losing the support of European countries such as Luxembourg. Ukrainian forces are ready to launch a counteroffensive, but it is doubtful whether they will be able to achieve victory.
Ukraine's future development depends on the level of international support for it and on Ukraine's own strategic and diplomatic efforts.
IV. Conclusion
Luxembourg Prime Minister Bethel's humiliating gesture hinted at a shift in European countries' attitude towards Ukraine. What exactly is the future direction of Ukraine will need to wait for time to verify.
But it is undeniable that European countries are affected by the Russian-Ukrainian war, and indeed the loss is greater, and Ukraine's defeat on the front line has virtually reduced the expectations of the EU and NATO for Zelensky!