Ukraine has shown the world that peace without strength is an illusion and that freedom comes with a cost. Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, emphasized this point during the 18th annual Kyiv Security Forum, which focused on the theme "Darkness or Dawn: Is There Light Ahead?"

"Kyiv teaches us something fundamental: freedom has a price, and peace without strength is merely an illusion. That is why supporting Ukraine remains our priority. Ukraine is now an integral part of the democratic community. As a military man, I am proud of our cooperation with Ukraine's Armed Forces, which have achieved an extraordinary level of effectiveness in a short time," he stated.

According to the admiral, what Ukraine is defending today matters to all of Europe because it concerns freedom and the international order.

"Today's event asks the right question: 'Darkness or Dawn: Is There Light Ahead?'  Ukraine knows darkness better than anyone. But Ukraine also shows us where the light begins: in courage, in unity, and in the refusal to give up or abandon freedom," Dragone emphasized.

He recalled that just a few days ago, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy received the international "Four Freedoms" award on behalf of the Ukrainian people. "This is much more than just a ceremony. It is a reminder that Ukraine’s struggle is no longer merely a national or European issue, but a universal defense of democratic freedom. Ukraine is defending the freedom and right of its people to determine their own future. It is defending the principle that borders cannot be changed by force and that civilians cannot be terrorized into submission,” the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee said.

He emphasized that Russia’s war against Ukraine is part of a larger global conflict between democratic nations and authoritarian regimes. “We must be clear: our freedom is at stake,” Dragone said.

The Chairman of the NATO Military Committee also emphasized the need to strengthen the unity of the Euro-Atlantic community. “Deterrence depends not only on military capabilities, but also on trust and unity,” he said.

Dragone emphasized that Russia’s war against Ukraine has sent a “strategic signal” to the West, indicating the necessity of rapid force deployment and the ability to sustain those forces in the long term. “We need to act quickly and build up our capabilities,” he stressed.

According to him, supporting Ukraine must remain a priority because trust in the international order depends on it.
Kyiv Security Forum (KSF) is an annual international event launched in 2007 on the initiative of Arseniy Yatsenyuk Open Ukraine Foundation.