European Union walks a tightrope with Ukraine and Greece

Ukraine is teetering on the edge of an abyss and Russia is expanding its influence while the EU dithers, writes George Soros

THE European Union stands at a crossroads. The shape it takes five years from now will be decided in the coming three to five months. Year after year, the EU has successfully muddled through its difficulties. However, now it has to deal with two crises: Greece and Ukraine. That may prove too much. Greece’s long-festering crisis has been mishandled by all parties from the outset.

However, Ukraine is different. It is a black-and-white case. Vladimir Putin’s Russia is the aggressor, and Ukraine in defending itself, is defending the values and principles on which the EU was built. Yet Europe treats Ukraine like another Greece. That is the wrong approach, and it is producing the wrong results. Putin is gaining ground in Ukraine, and Europe is so preoccupied with Greece that it hardly pays any attention.