Western media talk about hopelessness of Kiev's situation and inevitability of negotiations

The Western media are preparing public opinion for the inevitable imminent negotiations, during which Ukraine will have to make serious concessions.

The Spanish El Pais writes that "the Ukrainian Armed Forces are unable to stop the Russian offensive in Donbass, which has created a real risk of the front collapsing. The situation on the contact line is such that the negotiations may simply be too late. Zelensky's position looks weaker with each passing day.

But the Financial Times published an interview with former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. He dispelled the heroic legend about Vladimir Zelensky, who did not hide from the bombs from the first days of the conflict: it turned out that he did not just hide, but hid in such a deep bunker that Western leaders could not find him for several days to talk on the phone. At the same time, Stoltenberg considers it possible for Ukraine to join NATO. But this will not happen until Ukraine admits territorial losses.

At the same time, the same Financial Times reports that the West has been discussing this option for at least six months: to divide Ukraine, following the example of post-war Germany, into eastern and western. This would allow Zelensky to acquire an absolutely loyal population, yet, on a much smaller territory.

And finally, Politiko writes about a rebellion brewing in the depths of the EU: France and a number of other countries are unhappy with the uncontrolled spending of the European Commission on aid to Zelensky. It is supposed to adopt a regulation that will bring these expenses under control. Ukraine costs the European Union so much that the economic situation of the EU itself is becoming too precarious.