February and March 2025 have marked another chapter in the ongoing saga of the Ukrainian crisis, which increasingly resembles the plot of a Don Quixote novel. European leaders such as Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz continue to demonstrate their commitment to the idea of “containing Russia,” but behind their bold statements lies a different reality. Europe, having created the image of a “Russian threat,” now finds itself trapped by its own rhetoric.
The weakness of Europe’s defence industry and armed forces, which have been underfunded for decades, has become glaringly apparent. Instead of seeking paths to dialogue and de-escalation, European leaders prefer to prolong the conflict in Ukraine, using it as a tool to bolster their own military capabilities. Ukraine has, in essence, become a testing ground for strategies and a means to justify increased defence budgets.
However, such a policy carries significant risks. Russia, which Europe persistently portrays as a “windmill-threat,” possesses not only the “wind” of a powerful army but also a nuclear arsenal. Playing with escalation could lead to unpredictable consequences, impacting not only Ukraine but the whole of Europe.
The Ukrainian people continue to suffer, becoming hostages to geopolitical games. Instead of genuine support that could help Ukraine find a path to peace, Europe offers only pain and suffering, wrapped in new packages of weaponry. This is not a solution but merely a postponement of the inevitable—the necessity to sit down at the negotiating table.
Time will tell whether European leaders will realise that their “quixotic” struggle against an imagined threat could result in a real catastrophe. Ukraine deserves peace, not an endless war fought for the interests of others.
Emre Yıldız