Lviv, Ukraine, (EFE) – Russia’s intensified strikes on Ukrainian cities and growing pressure on the frontlines are fueling Ukrainian frustration over the United States’ inaction and Europe’s perceived sluggish response. Many are calling for tougher sanctions on Russia and increased military aid.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently blamed continued Russian attacks on “the silence of the US and others,” echoing a widespread belief that Moscow is emboldened by the indecision of Ukraine’s foreign partners.
“So far, the US has only pressured Ukraine, not Russia,” political analyst Vitaliy Portnikov said on Monday via his YouTube channel, which has nearly one million followers.
Portnikov noted that only after Zelenskyy’s latest criticism did United States President Donald Trump respond to the killing of civilians, calling Vladimir Putin “crazy”, after over 900 drones and 90 missiles struck Ukraine over the past three nights.
Some Ukrainian analysts hope continued Russian attacks on civilians may provoke Trump to military aid and sanctions.
But many have shifted their expectations away from the US.
Looking to Europe
“The rhetoric has been encouraging, but we need action,” said Khrystyna Shumska, a mother in Lviv whose husband is fighting near Pokrovsk. “We feel alone.”
Ukraine has long urged Europe to boost military , invest in t defense production, and enforce stronger sanctions against Russia’s economy. But progress has been slow.
“Europe is waking up, but it’s still in pajamas, sipping coffee,” said Oleksiy Melnyk, a security analyst at the Razumkov Centre in Kyiv and a former aide to the Minister of Defense. “It’s moving in the right direction, just far too slowly.”
This week, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that Ukraine is now permitted to use Western-supplied long-range weapons against Russian military targets, a move Ukraine has requested since 2022.
Analysts say the measure is welcome but late, and its impact will depend on the number and speed of deliveries.
“Unless Europe truly feels threatened by Russia, this inertia may continue,” warned Melnyk.
Melnyk stressed that if Russia succeeds in Ukraine, it won’t stop there. Though its army is advancing slowly, Russia is already targeting Europe with cyberattacks, sabotage, and even assassinations of political opponents.
“The real danger is the erosion of Euro-Atlantic security,” he said. “Geography won’t protect Europe if its security guarantees are weakened.”
Sanctions still ineffective
According to the Black Sea Institute of Strategic Studies, recent EU sanctions on nearly 200 Russian oil tankers are unlikely to significantly affect Moscow’s oil exports, which remain steady.
The head of its monitoring group, Andrii Klymenko, told EFE that Russian tankers don’t rely on European ports or insurance to reach buyers in India and China.
He argued that only banning Russian vessels from using European territorial waters, such as the Baltic Sea or English Channel, would have a real effect.
“Europe knows what it must do to make sanctions effective,” Klymenko said, “but it’s afraid to take that step.” EFE
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