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Questions about the border blockade in Poland? Ask them for our next episode of ‘This Week in Ukraine’ (Patreon)

Published:
2023-12-06 11:48:49
Imported:
2026-09
Tags:

Content

Dear Kyiv Independent community members,

We need your questions for the next episode of “This Week in Ukraine.” The topic this week is the blockades on the Polish border.

For one month, Polish truckers have been blocking checkpoints on the Ukrainian border, as they demand the EU end permit-free access for Ukrainian trucks – a measure put in place several months after the start of the full-scale invasion. Around 2,500 Ukrainian trucks are currently stuck at the Polish border as a result of the blockade.

To send in your questions, you can leave them in the comments below, message us on Patreon, or email our community manager Brooke at brooke@kyivindependent.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

Episode 36, “Why the West doesn’t want complete Ukrainian victory” is linked above. The episode is available on YouTube and on listening platforms, with your questions starting at 27:50.

Files

Why the West doesn’t want complete Ukrainian victory | This Week in Ukraine Ep. 36

This Week in Ukraine” is a video podcast hosted by Kyiv Independent reporter Anastasiia Lapatina. Every week, Anastasiia sits down with her newsroom colleagues to discuss Ukraine’s most pressing issues. Episode #36 is dedicated to the dark new phase in Russia’s war, and why the possibility of losing is once again a risk for Ukraine. Host Anastasiia Lapatina is joined by the Kyiv Independent reporter Francis Farrell. Support the Kyiv Independent by becoming a member: https://kyivindependent.com/membership/ Listen to the audio version of the podcast – http://bit.ly/3M2wtV9 Check out KI’s new documentary “Faces of Torture” – https://youtu.be/5XQxveVhfuI?si=MAG12PUZ9NvXUj15 The Kyiv Independent: X – https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/kyivindependent Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/kyivindependent_official/ Anastasiia Lapatina: X – https://twitter.com/lapatina_ Francis Farrell: X – https://twitter.com/francisjfarrell The episode was filmed by Olena Zashko and Liza Pyrozhkova. It was edited by Alex Kisly.

Comments

Matisse Enzer

Thank you for the clear (and of course sad) discussion. When I think of how the West might switch to supporting an actual Ukrainian victory I keep coming to two ideas: the first is that "the West" would need to see/feel/believe that it is possible (the West, especially the USA likes to support "winners"), and the second is that "the West" would need to feel that the threat from Russia to take more than Ukraine is real and strong. That second idea is the more difficult, because people in "the West" do not want to believe that Russia with an economy that ranks 11th or 6th (depending on how you count it) is a real threat, and making that psychological shift is hard, and there are some who are happy to divide the world up into spheres of influence of China, USA, Russia, etc.

Birger Braadland

There are several issues here. So I start with looking at interests. Let us take Germany first. They are divided. Their economy is depends on solid engineering and cheap energy. Unfortunately they cut nuclear power and opted for natural gas from Russia. So they want to normalize trade and opt for peace so unlike the brave Finns who are prepared for war as trade for peace is partial surrender of statehood. Poland also has internal disputes and risk adopting a German policy to my great surprise instead of going through the strike leaders books and jail him for tax evasion. Then look at the US. Many do not want more trouble, they are to run elections and risk support to Ukraine becoming an election issue.

Birger Braadland

Deeper down in the political mase a future with antagonism in the European Continent with a wounded Russia turning totally to the east is not appealing. They would rather draw a new red line from somewhere in Crimea to Belgorod and mend fences with Russia. Maybe good on paper, but without historical evidence of a lasting solution with a totalitrian state like Russia. Nato membership for Ukraine is the price Russia has to accept and Ukraine to endure in loss of land. This should have been done by elections locally to define who is to belong where. That would have been rational, but Russia is not rational. They have a Tartarian tradition of government, not elections of Hetmans among kossakes in the border regions against Turks and Tartars. They grew large led by one man and he was above any law back some 500 years. That has its risks. Sibiria is resource-rich, vast and close to China. Can Russia fight China alone? That answer should decide the fate of Ukraine because the answer is no. Russias long term interest should be to survive the coming century of Chinese domination as more than a vassal. Cut off from Europe they will have a sinking economy and falling population. China can wait. They are pretty good at that. Russia under Putin is at great risk. Somebody should tell them that without a diplomatic smile.

Christian Müller

The border blocade i Poland: This problem needs attention - and a solution NOW. Kyiv Independent can help: What is happening right now: are there no top-level actions to solve this problem? Is russia paying the polish blocaders? Can someone please interview the leader of the blocaders? It's unfathomable that someone can blocade a country that has been viciously, lawlessly assaulted - all arrows point to russia being behind this. Why is polish police not removing blocaders and putting them in a negotiation room with ukraine truck drivers? Can someone interview the polish minister of these affairs?

Max Hess

The ambivalence of US leaders regarding F16, the middle system and other aid: teaches us democracy is messy. Biden wants to send what is needed but internal politics, especially from the far right makes a maximum policy difficult. You speak about “ the US wants” is much more complicated than a single opinion. Unfortunately Ukraine is a piece in a chess piece in a complicated game of politics. Democracies are notoriously clumsy and slow. Those of us agree with maximum aid to Ukraine is only one voice. Most agree with aid but that has opinion has shades of gray. If Trump gains power in the US, aid will end and detente with Russia would ensue. For me, the defeat of Trump and aid to Ukraine are paramount. For Trump to be defeated, Biden must be returned via a broad coalition. Democracy is frustrating and sloppy at times, but the world cannot withstand a nationalist authoritarian like Trump. The more Biden is criticized by allies, the more ammunition for Trump and the forces of fascist authoritarianism. Just my opinion.