Comfort Ero: It is a myth that only the global West supports Ukraine

The narrative that the rest of the world, except for the West, does not support Ukrainians in the war against Russia is incorrect, said Comfort Ero, Crisis Group's President & CEO.

"There is a narrative that the rest of the world, except for the West, does not support Ukraine. I think this is not right. It is unfortunate when you simplify complexity. It is important that we properly understand where a country is coming from. If you look at people in countries where governments tend to lean towards Russia, you will see that ordinary people still support Ukraine," Comfort Ero said in her speech at the Annual meeting of the Yalta European Strategy (YES) "The Future is Being Decided in Ukraine" organised by YES in partnership with the Victor Pinchuk Foundation. 

According to Ero, there are a number of countries that are leaning towards Russia in this conflict precisely because they have strong anti-Western sentiments.

"These are the countries where the West has failed in its policy. It's not so much their love for Russia, but the consequences of the West's mistakes," Ero explained. According to Niall Ferguson, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, 39 countries - that is, only one fifth of the world - actively support Ukraine. Led by the United States, these 39 countries represent 59% of global GDP. However, 85% of the world's population lives in countries whose governments do not support Ukraine.

"The war in Ukraine is not the only one in the world, you are not the only one fighting today, and for many countries your war is far away. I'm sorry to say this, but it's true," said Ferguson.

According to Michael McFaul, Director of Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University, the best way to sway countries to Ukraine and the West is to ensure that Ukraine wins unconditionally.

"Do you want to know how to get more votes and change the UN vote? To win! If Ukraine wins, then all those who hesitate will be inclined towards the liberal democratic world. So, if you care about how the UN votes, help Ukraine win, and then we will have a unanimous vote at the General Assembly," McFaul concluded.