Katarína Mathernová: Peace in Ukraine demands a language of strength

The atmosphere within the EU delegation in Kyiv has shifted from formal diplomacy to a survival-oriented routine. With air-raid alerts occurring daily—sometimes reaching record numbers—staff now frequently retreat to corridors to avoid glass shards from nearby explosions. Mathernová describes the current Russian strategy as a calculated campaign of terror, targeting civilian infrastructure like maternity hospitals and libraries to compensate for a lack of significant battlefield progress. She characterizes these actions as war crimes so frequent they risk becoming normalized.

As winter approaches, the delegation is fortifying its operations, stockpiling water, food, and power supplies to ensure they can remain in the capital. While acknowledging that the loss of essential utilities like sewage or heating would be catastrophic, Mathernová points to the resilience of Kyiv’s residents during previous winters as a source of grim hope. Despite the proximity of strikes to her own residence and workplace, she asserts that the diplomatic corps remains committed to staying. The focus now rests on whether European allies can provide the necessary air defense systems, particularly Patriot missiles, to counter the evolving threat of jet drones and ballistic weaponry.