My Take | Without peace, this winter will be harshest for Europe

Some people like to tell me most countries support Ukraine. Actually, I am not even sure most people in European countries that have been actively arming Ukraine actually support the war. Most countries around the world have no skin in the game, other than feeling its economic fallouts. And those who do are experiencing war fatigue.

The Western mainstream news media focus on every setback and reversal for the Russians, thereby creating the illusion that Ukraine will prevail, any time now. But there is no quick victory for either side; the war will drag on. Short of a complete disaster, the only viable option is outside diplomatic intervention to mediate for a peace settlement.

If only those armchair cheerleaders of Ukraine bother to read about protests across Europe, they might realise ordinary people can’t afford to pay their bills for the war. In Germany, people from the left and right, students, parents and pensioners have been joining anti-war rallies.

Here are some choice remarks from protesters reported in the Financial Times and the Associated Press. “Germany is serving as a puppet exclusively for American interests and those of Nato,” “Ordinary Germans are paying,” and “The embargo policy against Russia has failed completely and is being directed catastrophically against ourselves.”

“We want Nato warmongers to stop creating a conflict between Germany and Russia, between Ukraine and Russia … Peace with Russia. We want normalised gas and electricity prices.”

The war in Ukraine has become a “paradise” for “warmongers, arms companies and profiteers”. Last time there were such regular and large rallies, it was against the East German communist government before the fall of the Berlin Wall. Quite simply, anti-war sentiments have merged with livelihood issues as winter approaches.