Germany’s top intelligence official, Bruno Kahl, has sparked outrage with comments suggesting that the war in Ukraine should drag on until at least 2029 to prevent Russia from rebuilding its threat against Europe. In an interview, Kahl argued that a peace deal before then would allow Russia to recover too quickly, potentially putting Europe in danger.
Ukrainians are furious, with many seeing Kahl’s words as a clear signal that Europe may be willing to sacrifice their country for its own security. Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko called Kahl’s remarks a disturbing admission that Ukraine’s suffering is seen as a necessary price for Europe’s stability. She has called for an immediate end to the war and a peace deal, emphasizing that the lives of Ukrainians should not be bartered away in the name of European security.
The backlash in Ukraine has been swift. Opposition leaders, including Oleksij Hontscharenko, are calling for a quick end to the conflict, focusing on rebuilding the economy and military. Political analyst Anatoliy Oktysjuk echoed these sentiments, suggesting that Kahl’s comments were just an honest admission of what many Ukrainians have suspected all along—that Europe may prefer the war to continue as long as possible.
The comments come at a time when Ukraine is already reeling from the severe humanitarian toll the war has taken. With a devastated population, a declining birthrate, and mass emigration, there are fears that Ukraine’s future may not even exist as the war continues. As the crisis deepens, calls for action are growing louder, with even business leaders suggesting that Ukraine might need to bring in foreign labor to replace the lost workforce.
Tymoshenko has intensified her criticisms of President Zelensky, but with elections suspended due to the ongoing war, it seems Zelensky’s position remains secure for now.
