While a state of emergency will soon be declared in Ukraine for fear of a Russian invasion, several neighboring states are worried about their own security. Showing solidarity with Kiev, by approving US-European financial sanctions, is also a way of protecting themselves. Direction the Czech Republic, Romania and Lithuania.
Czechs fear history will repeat itself
In the Czech Republic, any military invasion led by Moscow recalls the trauma of the crushing of Prague in 1968, when the country was occupied for more than twenty years. The Czech government has expressed its determination to help Ukraine and support Ukrainians.
The Czech Prime Minister spoke of the history of his country and with reference to the arrival of Soviet tanks in Prague in 1968, he felt that such initiatives against a sovereign state had never contributed to peace. In front of the deputies, Petr Fiala issued a warning: “If we look on the old maps at the territory of the Soviet Union and what Russia still considers to be its sphere of influence, then we all understand how deeply this concerns us.”
Other politicians in Prague recall the infamous fate of the Sudetenland, the German-populated region annexed by Hitler in 1938 before the Nazis overran the whole country a few months later. A demonstration was organized in Prague on Tuesday evening in support of Ukraine and some participants cited the famous formula of former Czech President Vaclav Havel. He said the Russian problem was “related to the fact that Russia did not really know where it started and especially where it ended”.
The Czech Republic is now a member of the EU and NATO and for some months has been on the list of “unfriendly countries” drawn up by the Kremlin since the revelations concerning explosions on Czech soil attributed to Russian services. Ammunition destined for Ukraine was reportedly the target of these explosions which killed two people in 2014.
In Romania, the sanctions are considered timid
A neighbor of Ukraine, and a former satellite country of the USSR, Romania is also worried about Russian expansionism. The sanctions announced Tuesday in the West are considered very weak by the Romanians. Instead, they seem to be relying on the military might of NATO to stop Vladimir Putin.
The Russian threat is perceived all the more keenly in Romania as Vladimir Putin is in conflict with neighboring Moldova, where he supports the separatists of Transnistria. And in the face of Russian aggressiveness, the international community, led by the European Union, is considered very soft. Sanctions are certainly beginning to increase, but they are far from sufficient. Columnist Cristian Pantazi, editor-in-chief of the online news site G4 Media, is very harsh: “What kind of morals are these political leaders displaying on the world stage, given that they are trying to prevent harsh, meaningful and effective sanctions against a player state who behaves as if there are no rules? ?“.
Whatever they are, economic sanctions will not be enough to stop Russia, to hear Ioana Bentoiu, opera singer and singing teacher: “I don’t think economic sanctions work well because Russians have been used to hunger and cold for centuries! They can still endure a few.” “
“As long as Europe is only attached to commercial interests, this can continue”
Ioana Bentoiu, Romanian opera singer
For many Romanians, Western Europe sees Russia as a supplier of gas and oil, while here in the east of the continent, Moscow is perceived as a permanent military threat. On the other hand, the Romanians continue to perceive NATO as effective protection. They are 63% to feel reassured by the Franco-American military reinforcement planned for soon.
Lithuanians and Ukrainians, brotherly peoples
In the Baltic countries, we are following the development of the situation in Ukraine with great concern also because of the very close ties between the two countries. In 2004, during the Orange Revolution, Lithuania was already supporting Ukraine on the European path. It was in Vilnius, at the end of 2013, that President Yanukovych refused to sign the association agreement with Europe, which led to the Maidan revolution and the annexation of Crimea. Since then, many Ukrainians have found refuge in Lithuania and the Baltic country continues to support Ukraine very actively. Whether at the military level, by sending instructors, treating wounded soldiers or through numerous projects, such as the renovation of schools.
>> In Lithuania, the crisis between Ukraine and Russia rekindles tensions on the European border: “Everything is possible and it’s scary”
Like them, thirty years ago, Lithuanians believe that Ukrainians should be able to choose their path. But above all, the population simply fears that they will be Moscow’s next target, because Vladimir Putin never accepted their exit from the Soviet Union. This threat is becoming more and more real. More than 30,000 Russian soldiers are currently present in Belarus. They did not leave the country, as promised, after the major exercises.
Vilnius is located only 30 kilometers from the Belarusian border. The security situation therefore changes drastically. For the Lithuanians, the presence of the NATO battalion on the spot for five years is no longer enough. We need much greater means of deterrence, because it is no longer just Lithuania that would be attacked, but the European Union and NATO. The Germans have already sent reinforcements. The Americans have just promised some.