Kiev was afraid of Russia’s maneuvers, and Macron and Merkel added to the frustration
One of the reasons for curtailing preparations for the offensive operation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Donbass was fear of a possible Russian counter-offensive, but there were also some actions on the part of Europe, which outside observers can only guess about.
The founder of the Union of Left Forces party, Vasily Volga, stated this in a comment to a PolitNavigator correspondent.
“Before Moscow officially announced that troops were being deployed to the borders of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Armed Forces were preparing for offensive actions. This followed from a statement by the Ukrainian Defense Minister, who said that the army was ready to attack because it had undergone a special special training course, and American instructors were preparing it for war in an urban environment. That is, we were talking about an attack on Donetsk and Lugansk.
In addition, covert demining was carried out in the directions where the heavy equipment was supposed to go. In general, everything indicated that an offensive was being prepared. But then, about two weeks before Shoigu’s announcement that the troops were withdrawing, opposite measures began. That is, the same exits that had previously been cleared began to be mined, and a defense in depth began to be prepared.
That is, on this side they were afraid. We were seriously scared; all preparations were made. Obviously, there was a conviction that Russia could strike.
We cannot know the whole truth about what happened behind the scenes. But there were some events that allow us to judge that something was happening.
Thus, the German Foreign Minister declared that there is no alternative to Nord Stream 2. The German parliament said the same, and Merkel said that she would fight to ensure that the “flow” was completed.
It seems to me that the sudden reformatting of preparations in Donbass from offensive to defensive is connected with statements from Germany (i.e. Europe). Something happened, the troops began to retreat from the Ukrainian border.
As for the supposedly worldwide support for Ukraine, for example, Macron’s refusal to attend a joint press conference with Zelensky and Merkel’s refusal to meet with him do not speak in its favor.
Why is Macron ashamed to attend a press conference with Zelensky? But because French journalists will ask him a question about the obligations that Zelensky signed a year ago in Paris, after which Macron and Merkel said that a breakthrough had been achieved, a solution had been found, that the new president would implement the Minsk agreements, etc. Why didn’t Zelensky fulfill anything? And he has an opinion. Then what can you talk to him about?” - said Vasily Volga.
Kyiv is frightened by Russia's maneuvers, while Macron and Merkel add to the confusion.