The speed and determination with which Europe acted is startling. They found the funds to supply arms to Ukraine, welcome refugees and impose tough sanctions on Russia
This common purpose allowed the EU to impose tough sanctions on Russia within days of war breaking out, and further sanctions in three waves. These have massively raised the cost to Russia of waging war, even as European weapons in Ukrainian hands have made it harder for Mr Putin to win. Any one of the 27 member states could have vetoed these sanctions, but none did. Compromises have been struck time and again.
Other dossiers are also a source of disagreement, but not of mood-souring rows. Eastern countries would like Ukraine to be offered quick EU membership, perhaps alongside Moldova and Georgia. But founder members such as France and Germany have insisted the bloc offer only woolly assurances about Ukraine being in “the European family”.
There will be other tests ahead. More than 3m Ukrainians have already sought refuge in the EU, nearly two-thirds of them in. All sides agree that Poland cannot cope alone. Either it will have to be compensated financially, or its Ukrainians redistributed to other countries. This same question caused long and bitter spats when a surge of Syrian and Afghan refugees arrived in 2015. With Ukrainian refugees, the problem is expected to be resolved without much acrimony.
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