As the Russo-Ukrainian war nears its second year, the conflict itself poses an endurance test for much of the Western world. Throughout Europe, offering shelter for mass Ukrainian refugees and offering monetary and military aid to the Ukrainian front lines cannot continue to outpace the influx of people and the glut to national economies. 


Starting a few months ago, Poland’s PiS political party officials embraced hardline rhetoric against continuing to support the country they share their east border with. While PiS lost Poland’s most recent election, there remains an echo amongst the populace over how much more the country can continue to support the Ukrainian war effort, to what end, and at what cost. 


Meanwhile, as the European Union prepares to resume its pre-Pandemic fiscal rules, Italy’s right-wing Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, urged the EU commission to reconsider how money spent on foreign aid and defense is calculated in terms of deficit metrics as the bloc’s member states grapple with their own economies. Whether they like it or not, Ukraine will remain a major consideration in all financial matters for the EU.