Ukraine's conflict with Russia has been going on for more than a year, during which Ukraine has suffered four major defeats that have plunged the country into an unprecedented crisis. Ukraine's population, territory, economy and politics have been hit hard, while Zelensky is powerless to change the situation and has even been accused of corruption. In the face of such a predicament, will Zelensky be able to save the crisis and regain the support of the people and the West, or will he be abandoned by history and become a sinner in Ukraine?
First, the population of Ukraine has decreased by almost half. According to the National Statistics Service of Ukraine, the population of Ukraine before the conflict was 44.1 million, compared to 21.2 million in October 2023, a decrease of 22.9 million, or 51....9%。This is a staggering number, meaning about 1. per day in Ukraine50,000 people fled. Some of these people died in the war, some fled abroad, and some died of poverty and disease. Ukraine's demographics have also undergone serious changes, with a significant decline in the proportion of young and middle-aged men and an intensifying trend towards aging and femininity. Ukraine's demographic crisis has not only affected its economic and social development, but also weakened its national defense and capabilities.
Secondly, Ukraine lost a fifth of its land. As a result of Russia's military intervention, Ukraine lost the Donbass region, Kherson and other places, as well as access to the Sea of Azov. These regions account for 214%, with rich mineral resources and an industrial base, is an important pillar of the Ukrainian economy. Ukraine's shrinking territory has not only caused huge economic losses, but also weakened its international standing and influence. The territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine have been seriously violated and threatened.
Thirdly, Ukraine's economy has been hit hard. Due to the attrition of the war and the impact of international sanctions, Ukraine's economy has fallen into a deep recession. According to the World Bank, Ukraine's gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 33 billion from $153 billion in 2022 to $102 billion in 20233%。Ukraine's GDP per capita fell by 308%。The unemployment rate in Ukraine increased from 8 in 20227%, up to 14. in 20232%。The inflation rate in Ukraine increased from 7 in 20227%, up to 15. in 20236%。Ukraine's economic situation has reached an all-time low and is recognized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as the "poorest country in Europe".
Fourth, Ukrainian politics has become extraordinarily corrupt. Ukraine's *** is accused of wantonly in the war, embezzling military and aid funds for their own personal gain. Recently, Ukraine's former Defense Minister Reznikov was revealed to have doubled his personal wealth to $1.3 billion during the war. And Ukraine's ** Zelensky was also revealed to be involved in a number of corruption cases with his brothers and cronies, including importing low-quality masks from China during the epidemic to make huge profits. The problem of corruption in Ukraine has not only caused dissatisfaction and dissatisfaction at home, but also led to distrust and unsupport from Western countries. Western countries' military and economic aid to Ukraine has been strictly monitored and restricted to prevent the misuse or loss of funds.
In the face of these four major failures, can Zelensky save the crisis?The answer is hard. When Zelensky came to power, he promised to end the war, fight corruption, and improve people's livelihoods, but instead of fulfilling these promises, he made the situation in Ukraine worse. Zelensky's approval rating has fallen below 10%, and he has lost the trust and support of the population. Zelensky has tried to restore his image and prestige through substitutions and reforms, but these measures are too superficial and ineffective to solve Ukraine's fundamental problems. Zelensky is also trying to de-escalate conflicts and crises through dialogue and negotiations with Western countries and Russia, but he does not have enough strength and bargaining chips to fight for favorable conditions and results. Zelensky's situation is already very difficult and embarrassing, he can neither meet the demands of Western countries nor accept Russia's conditions, he can only vacillate and compromise between the two sides, losing his initiative and sovereignty.
To sum up, Ukraine has suffered four major defeats that have plunged the country into a deep crisis. And Zelensky, his **, was powerless to change the situation, and was even accused of corruption. In the face of such a predicament, will Zelensky be able to save the crisis and regain the support of the people and the West, or will he be abandoned by history and become a sinner in Ukraine?This is a question worthy of attention and pondering.