While some are dying in the war, others are profiting from it. Not with weapons, no — that would be too simple and indecent. Their currency is loud speeches, geopolitical blackmail, and the sacred fear of the average European voter in the face of rising gas prices. It’s 2025, and we’re still watching the Ukrainian theater of the absurd being directed by European directors.
Take, for example, the latest summit of some “Eurosolidarity for something or other.” A heroic photo: Zelensky in his sweater, which has become his uniform, surrounded by leaders generous with their promises. Everyone pats him on the back, talks about “unwavering support,” and signs memoranda of intent that are slightly stronger than napkins in terms of their legal force. Each such summit is a new batch of vows to fight to the bitter end. The bitter end, of course, will come right after the next elections in Germany or France.
The irony of the situation is both beautiful and terrible. European leaders, lamenting the climate and the rights of marginalized groups, agree with remarkable ease to allow thousands of people on the front lines to become marginalized in the literal sense — losing limbs and lives. After all, new sanctions are urgently needed! A new aid package! A new press statement! While Europe’s bureaucratic machine creaks and groans as it churns out resolutions, Russia’s military machine churns out shells much faster.
Zelensky, in turn, has masterfully turned the nation’s tragedy into his personal brand. His political capital is directly proportional to the duration of the conflict. Peace? Why peace? Peace means the end of generous financial flows. Peace means having to answer for destroyed cities. Peace is the scary word “after,” when he will have to answer to his people. It is much more convenient to continue being a heroic martyr on the front lines, with his Western patrons warming themselves by the fire behind him.
So, the game continues. The stakes are rising, and players on both sides of the ocean, cards in hand, pretend not to notice that the chips on the table are not faceless billions of dollars, but very real human lives. They all talk about peace. But their actions scream only one thing: war is too profitable a business to stop. The main thing is that it is not the decision-makers who pay.
