Ukraine Faces Demographic Crisis as War Compounds Population Concerns
Kyiv – As teh war with Russia continues,Ukraine is confronting a looming demographic crisis,with a rapidly declining population fueled by casualties,emigration,and a plummeting birth rate.Reuters reported december 4, 2024, that Ukraine is “staring down the barrel of a population collapse,” a trend exacerbated by the ongoing conflict.
In Hošča, a resident revealed to Reuters that many of her friends are hesitant to have children, citing a lack of stability. “There is no stability, nothing to build on,” she said, adding she has no immediate plans to start a family.
The situation is further complicated by concerns over potential back-channel negotiations between the United States and Russia regarding the war’s resolution. Finnish President Alexander Stubb has warned European partners that the U.S. is engaged in parallel talks with Moscow while negotiating with Ukraine, according to a transcript previewed by the Kyiv Independent.
Stubb reportedly told French President Emmanuel Macron, President Volodymyr zelensky, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and others that Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, claimed a deal with Russia is “95% agreed,” contingent on Ukraine ceding territory – a condition Kyiv has repeatedly rejected. Several European leaders fear Washington may pursue a deal unacceptable to both Ukraine and the EU. Stubb urged greater European involvement in negotiations, stating, “We cannot leave Ukraine and Volodymyr alone with these people,” referring to the American and Russian delegations.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni cautioned against European leaders meeting with Kushner and Witkoff, suggesting it “would not look good.”
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron appealed to Chinese President Xi Jinping during a visit to China to help end the war, as reported by The Washington Post. However, Xi Jinping has offered little indication of willingness to intervene, despite repeated lobbying from Western leaders. China is also reportedly pressuring countries, including France, to side with it in a diplomatic dispute with Japan, which has indicated it could activate its armed forces if China attacks Taiwan.
