There is a huge gap between Zelensky's expectations and reality! He expects the EU to provide a lot of ** aid free of charge, but this is far from the case. The European Commission has revealed the truth behind it: even in times of crisis, pie does not fall from the sky. Let's dissect the European Commission's response.
Zelensky seems to have mistakenly thought that the EU's artillery aid would be free. However, EU Internal Market Commissioner Breton clarified this misunderstanding in an interview with **. Of the 1 million artillery rounds promised by the EU to Ukraine, only 300,000 were transferred free of charge, and this is only part of the aid. Breton further noted that the 1 million shells promised by the EU are ** and not transferred, and Ukraine must buy some of the shells on its own.
At the heart of the issue is the fact that the EU is not an angel of generosity, but an entity that operates on commercial principles. Gratuitous aid is only a small fraction of the total aid, and most of it will cost Ukraine. In fact, Ukraine has already acquired a large amount of ** equipment through direct purchases and bilateral **. In other words, there is no such thing as a free lunch, and even behind international aid, there is an exchange of interests and a business logic.
This reality also reflects the attitude of the United States and other Western countries. The Lend-Lease Act signed by the United States and Ukraine embodies this business logic. You need to repay the money you lend and rent to you, and this is the actual attitude towards the problem of aid. Therefore, Ukraine cannot be blinded by the false generosity of Western countries. After all, the fate of Ukraine is in its own hands, and it should pay for equipment itself, and not rely on handouts from others.
This story teaches us that reality is often brutal and realistic. In international relations, no one would disregard their own interests for the benefit of others. Ukraine needs to understand that it can be invincible in the international arena only by its own strength.