Opinion

The US commitment to swiftly ending the Russia-Ukraine war has sparked concerns that Western companies may attempt  to rapidly re-enter the Russian market if a peace deal is reached. However, the risks of operating in Russia have skyrocketed, making the case for returning both practically reckless and morally questionable. For companies considering re-entering, Russia represents a game of Russian roulette.

At the Munich Security Conference, one message echoed loud and clear: Europe must act—fast. For Ukraine, this is a chance to prove its innovation and resilience can help secure the future.

The narrative of a corrupt Ukrainian army and the embezzlement of security assistance is a persistent talking point in Russian propaganda. The ultimate goal of such propaganda is clear: to undermine military and economic support for Ukraine by convincing the world that aid is being misused. But what are the facts?

Nearly three years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the world has learned a hard truth: fossil fuel dependency fuels war. With clean energy now on the rise, Europe has a chance to cut the cord that has long tied it to Russian energy.

With some US support to Ukraine paused, Europe must step in to sustain vital projects and safeguard Ukraine’s resilience in the fight against Russian aggression.

Every barrel of oil in Russia’s "shadow fleet" fuels destruction in Ukraine and beyond. But the West has the tools to stop it.