Analyst: Ukraine shows 'remarkable innovation' holding the front while hitting Russia's economy
Chatham House associate fellow Samantha de Bendern says European support for Ukraine is becoming more consequential but still falls short of addressing the country's core vulnerability — air defence.
Political risk and financial consultant Samantha de Bendern, an associate fellow at Chatham House, discussed Europe's growing but still insufficient support for Ukraine in an interview with France 24's Genie Godula.
De Bendern pointed to increasingly consequential steps taken by European allies, including the transfer of interceptor missiles to Ukraine and discussions around producing Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles domestically within the country. These moves carry added weight as US stocks of Patriot air defence systems become more constrained.
The bigger question: air defence
According to de Bendern, the central issue is no longer just about supplying weapons, but whether Ukraine's allies are willing to go further and actively help protect Ukrainian airspace. This debate is not new — it dates back to the earliest weeks of the full-scale invasion in 2022, when then-US President Joe Biden warned of an imminent Russian attack. Even then, Kyiv's allies ruled out enforcing a no-fly zone over Ukraine, wary that a direct clash between NATO and Russian forces could spiral into a broader war with Moscow.
De Bendern noted that this same dilemma continues to shape Western policy more than three years into the full-scale war, as allies try to balance support for Ukraine against the risk of direct confrontation with Russia.
