Russia's aggression against Ukraine has forced the European Union to regain its strength and global role, and our country's victory and full-fledged membership in the EU will ensure a new historic success for the entire European project.
This was stated by Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba during an online lecture on the future of Europe at the Menéndez Pelayo International University in Santander, Spain. The lecture opened the traditional training course "Quo Vadis Europe?" led by EU High Representative Josep Borrell, which has been held for 22 years in a row.
"For a long time, we have been witnessing a period of antagonism in international relations, during which the established old alliances have been paralyzed by internal conflicts and an inability to act decisively. Pariah regimes such as Russia seized the moment, as well as anti-American sentiment, to push their interests hard. Unlike us, they have never lacked determination, and their goals have always been malicious," the Minister said.
He stressed that since 2022, the situation has changed radically. The EU and the Western world have gained new strength. Ukraine is gaining new military and political weight in Central and Eastern Europe and in the world. Russia's influence is declining after its defeats on the battlefield in Ukraine. Central Asian countries are slowly freeing themselves from Moscow's pressure and blackmail. Turkey, Saudi Arabia, China and other players are gaining new weight in the international arena.
"All these trends will determine a new balance of power. Our main task is to ensure decades of peace and development on the European continent. In fact, we are already in a new Europe. A Europe that has got rid of its fatigue and is taking active steps to defend its values. Ukraine's victory in the war and its accession to the European Union will ensure the success of the entire European project," Dmytro Kuleba stressed.
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister reminded that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the EU has been providing Ukraine with large-scale support, including military support. He noted that this is not charity, but the best investment in Europe's long-term security.
"Ukraine's convincing victory, the implementation of President Zelenskyy's Peace Formula and accountability for Russian crimes are the basic conditions for restoring peace and stability in Europe. I can only remind those who say that these tasks are unrealistic that in February 2022, Ukraine was predicted to exist for 3 to 10 days. We have already proved many analysts and experts wrong, and we will continue to do so. And those who are now criticizing the counter-offensive despise the sacrifice of our heroes," the Minister said.
Dmytro Kuleba recalled his words that the EU is a "liberal empire". This metaphor means that the EU needs to get bigger to win in the global struggle for influence. Europe needs new strength and muscle, and the so-called "enlargement fatigue" should give way to healthy global ambitions.
"Since February 2022, the EU as a whole and individual member states have demonstrated many times that they have such ambitions. In particular, when they granted Ukraine the status of an EU candidate. Now, Ukrainians are simultaneously at war and implementing internal transformations. Ukraine is determined to fulfill all the tasks set by the European Commission and open negotiations on EU accession this year," he stressed.
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister noted that it is naive to think that Moscow's plans are limited to Ukraine. Russia wants to harm the whole of Europe, and the strong EU is not part of Putin's plans. He wants to see the EU in chaos, with conflicts between member states, paralyzed by indecision and destabilized by angry voters.
"We have to be strong and united, we have to play a big game and be ambitious, look beyond the horizon and uncompromisingly defend our values. Ukrainians are already doing all this today. The times of difficulties will pass. A new Europe will be born, and Ukraine will be an integral part of it. The new balance of power will ensure decades of peace and stability for all Europeans. No more children will have to die in a barbaric and unprovoked war of aggression. And to ensure that Europe's founding principle of "Never Again" is forever enshrined," the Minister concluded.