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Ukraine is part and parcel of European community, and Ukrainians feel deeply their agency and are grateful for the support.These were the words of Katarina Mathernova, Ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine, at the special event of the Kyiv Security Forum, established by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk “Open Ukraine” Foundation.“We look for sustainable decisions, as future of Ukraine is in Europe. Just four days after the Russian invasion, the Ukrainian authorities applied for the EU membership... Ukraine’s future is in the EU, and this is the hope that this country needs to keep its brave retaliation of the brutal aggression”, - she stressed.The EU Ambassador also stressed that she believes “in sustainability of the future European family”.“Ukrainians feel their agency; they feel it and display it daily. And it is demonstrated not only by the authorities of the country, but it is also clearly displayed across all social media, the Ukrainians write “we have no intention to give up and surrender!” At the same time, they clearly understand that they need help, and they are grateful for all assistance … And Europe needs Ukraine for its own defence as well. And the overall developmental direction of the whole continent lies in this very direction”, - Ambassador Mathernova summed up.She also specifically mentioned heroism, resilience, and determination of Ukrainians, who "have stood up to evil”.Kyiv Security Forum, established by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk “Open Ukraine” Foundation, is the major platform in this country to discuss problems of war and peace, issues of national and global security. &nbsp;

Ukraine is part and parcel of European community, and Ukrainians feel deeply their agency and are grateful for the support.

The future of Ukraine is in Europe, - Katarina Mathernova

<img src="https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/d8088b00_76f5_4211_85ff_bf722fa43bdb_6638026b71.jpg" alt="d8088b00-76f5-4211-85ff-bf722fa43bdb.jpg" srcset="https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_d8088b00_76f5_4211_85ff_bf722fa43bdb_6638026b71.jpg 168w,https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/small_d8088b00_76f5_4211_85ff_bf722fa43bdb_6638026b71.jpg 500w,https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/medium_d8088b00_76f5_4211_85ff_bf722fa43bdb_6638026b71.jpg 750w,https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/large_d8088b00_76f5_4211_85ff_bf722fa43bdb_6638026b71.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw" width="1000px"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Editor-s-Picks/Interview/Trump-s-call-for-Russia-return-to-G7-unacceptable-former-Ukraine-PM">Nikkei</a> 16.02.2025 MUNICHYatsenyuk says peace talks will fail without EU involvement in crafting joint plan.U.S. President Donald Trump's talk of bringing Russia back into the Group of Seven amid negotiations toward ending Moscow's war in Ukraine is "completely unacceptable," former Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk says.Speaking with Nikkei on Sunday at the Munich Security Conference, Yatsenyuk urged Japan and other members of the G7 not to allow Russia to return or "even to hold these kind of talks," asserting that the group's members should share values of freedom and democracy.Yatsenyuk also warned that negotiations involving only the U.S. and Russia would fail."We can have some kind of talks, but it's going to be a cheap talk, a kind of hot air," he said. "So we urgently need to craft a joint plan, joint negotiating position, and only afterwards, after we are to be on the same page with Americans and the European Union, we can handle these kind of talks with Russia."These remarks came after Keith Kellogg, the U.S. special presidential envoy for Ukraine and Russia, said Saturday that he does not think Europe will be directly at the table for talks with Russia.Yatsenyuk argued that European countries should spend more on their military and build up their military-industrial complex to bolster deterrence and defense against Russia."The stronger Europe is, the better relations between Europe and the United States will be, and the less chances [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and other pariahs in this world will have to prevail," he said.In a speech Saturday at the Munich conference, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for the creation of an independent "army of Europe" to defend European territory against Russia.Yatsenyuk said Zelenskyy "delivered the right messages" in terms of Europe taking responsibility for regional security, but stressed that this should not supplant NATO.Yatsenyuk, a major player on the pro-Western side of Ukrainian politics, was prime minister when Russia annexed Crimea. He also has served as minister of foreign affairs and the economy, implementing economic reforms with support from the International Monetary Fund.

Speaking with Nikkei on Sunday at the Munich Security Conference, Yatsenyuk urged Japan and other members of the G7 not to allow Russia to return or "even to hold these kind of talks," asserting that the group's members should share values of freedom and democracy.

Trump's call for Russia return to G7 'unacceptable': former Ukraine PM

The G7 states must continue to focus their attention on continuation and tightening of sanctions against Russia, and impossibility of circumventing them. This was the message of Natalka Cmoc, Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine, at the KSF special event organized by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk “Open Ukraine” Foundation.“We all must remember the reasons why Russia was kicked out of G7. This happened in 2014 after the annexation of Crimea. The conditions have not changed, and Canada is not prepared to change the (Russia’s) membership, and we will stand firm on that,” – she argued.Ambassador also mentioned that with Canada presiding now in the G7, Melanie Jolie, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, had a number of meetings with Andrii Sybiha, her Ukrainian counterpart, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.“And that speaks volumes that Ukraine’s remaining central in the priorities. And it is important in two ways. One it is extremely important to work together within the G7 to increasingly support Ukraine in all kinds of ways. And two: it is important to continue to put pressure on Russia: whether it’s diplomatic, financial, economical, and to impose caps on oil prices”, - the diplomat stressed.According to Natalka Cmoc, “sanctions are working”.“Sanctions ought to continue to be priorities, they must be stronger in new areas and nimble. And we need to address the circumvention of these sanctions. And it is important that the G7 continues to support Ukraine. And bilateral relations (Canada-Ukraine) have not changed”, - the Ambassador summed up.Kyiv Security Forum, organized by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk “Open Ukraine” Foundation, is the major platform in this country to discuss problems of war and peace, issues of national and global security.

The G7 states must continue to focus their attention on continuation and tightening of sanctions against Russia, and impossibility of circumventing them. 

Sanctions against Russia and impossibility of their circumvention must remain
our priority – Natalka Cmoc

NATO Allies collectively facilitate establishment of just and sustainable peace in Ukraine, and security guarantees are needed for that.This was the message of Patrick Turner, Senior NATO Representative – Head of the NATO Representation to Ukraine, at the special event of the Kyiv Security Forum, established by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk “Open Ukraine” Foundation.Mr. Turner also reminded the audience that Mark Rutte, the NATO General Secretary, called on to maximize assistance now to put Ukraine in the best possible position on the battlefield and, therefore, at the negotiating table.“NATO Allies collectively want to see the establishment of a just and lasting peace, and that was abundantly clear at all sets of meetings taking place in Brussels and elsewhere over recent days. The partners want to assure that there will be no renewed attack of Russia on Ukraine or on NATO territory”, - Mr. Turner argued.“There must be no Minsk 3, there must be an enduring and lasting peace”, he quoted the words of the NATO Secretary General.“That’s the message from the US, from the European Allise, this is the common message of recent days”, - Senior NATO Representative emphasized.He also mentioned that las year the NATO military assistance to Ukraine was a little over 50 billion Euros. 40% arrived from the USA, and 60% - from Canada and Europe, Mr. Turner added.He also added that the US has asked its European Allies to step up much more, on security in Europe, on defence spending, on support to Ukraine, on security guarantees for Ukraine, and “to ensure fair burden-sharing”.“Security cannot be guaranteed by just one or two countries, and European Allies need and must step up their share of burden and their share of responsibility. We all wish for a safe and prosperous future for this great country and for the entire world”, Mr. Turner emphasized.Kyiv Security Forum, established by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk “Open Ukraine” Foundation, is the major platform in this country to discuss problems of war and peace, issues of national and global security.

“Security cannot be guaranteed by just one or two countries, and European Allies need and must step up their share of burden and their share of responsibility. We all wish for a safe and prosperous future for this great country and for the entire world.”

There can be effective security guarantees with Europe and the US working
together, - Patrick Turner

“First of all, we urgently need an European Parliament Resolution stating the EU support of Ukraine, expanded military procurement budget, and extension of a long-term security package to Ukraine”, - Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum, Prime Minister of Ukraine in 2014-2016 at the special KSF event on February 21, 2025.Correspondingly, the EU should ask the US to extend the same support and provide a lend-lease package for Ukraine. Moreover, it is necessary to ask the US not to curtail their defence expenditures, even though such plans have already been voiced: “We need to say – we stand ready to purchase American weapons provided you give a lend-lease package to Ukraine. We stand ready to upscale our defence spending if you do the same. This is a two-way street”.One more issue on the agenda is Russian assets, Arseniy Yatsenyuk stressed: “There are some 300 billion of Russian assets, not in the US, but in the EU. Do not fear the Russians. If we want to prevail in this war – we must act. Europe must confiscate these assets and tell the American President: we’ve done our part, now it’s your turn to do the same with 5 billion of Russian assets that are held in the US”.This money, Mr. Yatsenyuk stressed, could be used for defence procurement for Ukraine.One more issue of importance - sanctions: “The EU must take the lead in this process and apply secondary sanctions to all circumventing sanction policies of the EU and the US. This way, the EU can say to the US administration: we’ve done our part, it’s your turn now”.The KSF Chairman also reminded the audience that certain rumors circulate about tensions among the G7 countries vis-à-vis a Resolution condemning the Russian aggression, “allegedly, the US remain reluctant to sign such a wording”: “Do be proactive. State clearly: “we stand ready to adopt the decision by the G7 including statements of all member-states on their readiness to raise their military spending. On their readiness to support Ukraine, on their readiness to purchase weapons from the US. We stand ready to enforce our alliances. Whereas you, Mr. President, should incorporate this very wording into the statement”.“If you go public – you attain your objective. I believe that the artistry of political deals, in the prime of their popularity across the modern world, works just this way”, - Arseniy Yatsenyuk argued.“Either we want President Trump to win, or we want putin to win. I’m certain we want President Trump to win. It is because we want Ukraine to win. So, let’s profit from this wise approach – to give the Americans all they ask to get all we need. This is the world we live in”, - the KSF Chairman summed up.

“First of all, we urgently need an European Parliament Resolution stating the EU support of Ukraine, expanded military procurement budget, and extension of a long-term security package to Ukraine”, - Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum.

The EU should ask the USA to provide a lend-lease package to Ukraine –
Arseniy Yatsenyuk

There is bi-partisan consensus in the US on the need to continue supporting Ukraine. Kyiv and Washington share same values and principles.These were the words of Gen. David Petraeus, the KSF Security Council Member, Commander of the US Central Command (2008 -2010), Director of the United States Central Intelligence Agency (2011-2012) at the special event of the KSF, organized by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk “Open Ukraine” Foundation.“I was at the Munich Security Conference and I met with a large Congressional delegation. And this is a metric that Europeans watch. This is very important. I sat down with Senator Lindsey Graham, who is very close to President Trump, and with the other Democratic and Republican House representatives. They came to Munich to show their support. And I think there is a bi-partisan consensus on the imperative to continue supporting Ukraine”, - he said.Gen. Petraeus also mentioned that the US have provided the vast amount of security support, more than all other countries put together.“Although we should credit the other NATO and EU countries that provided more overall, if we add all financial, economic, and humanitarian assistance to security assistance”, - General added.At the same time, he commended outstanding progress of Ukraine in its military- industrial complex, stating that Ukraine itself made more howitzers last year, 155- millimiter howitzers, than it received.“So, we need to continue to enable Ukraine to do what it has done so impressively – incredible innovations … I firmly believe in the imperative to continue assisting Ukraine”, - Gen. Petraeus emphasized.He specially commended Ukrainian innovations, especially in the unmanned systems. He expressed certainty that such unmanned systems become the future of war”.General also noted that it was his fifth trip to Ukraine since the start of the large-scale war.“Let’s make sure that we are all devoted to ensuring sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, the country that has suffered from a brutal, barbaric invasion … Let us keep in perspective that we share principles and values, that we hold them dear in fact, so that we have provided so much assistance from the United States and from other NATO and European, and Western countries”, - he emphasized.Gen. Petraeus also called to start pulling all horses in one direction to achieve sustainable peace.Kyiv Security Forum, organized by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk “Open Ukraine” Foundation, is the major platform in this country to discuss problems of war and peace, issues of national and global security.

There is bi-partisan consensus in the US on the need to continue supporting Ukraine. Kyiv and Washington share same values and principles.

It is necessary to continue to support Ukraine, and by-partisan consensus on the
need to support Ukrainians is there, - Gen. David Petraeus

Ukraine continues to develop cutting-edge technologies that literally are not employed anywhere in the world, and this is the future of warfare.This was the message of Gen. David Petraeus, the KSF Security Council Member, Commander of the US Central Command (2008 -2010), Director of the United States Central Intelligence Agency (2011-2012) at the special event of the KSF, established by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk “Open Ukraine” Foundation.“What Ukraine has done to overcome the realities of being heavily outnumbered, heavily outgunned is hugely impressive. This transformation of how war is being fought is led by Ukraine.By the way, the Russians are iterating as well. They’re very good in radio-electronic warfare, in jamming, air defences, and the rest of it. But Ukraine continues to develop very cutting-edge technologies, that literally are not employed anywhere in the world, and this is the future of warfare, - the General added.The General also stressed that all these initiatives enable Ukraine to limit Russia on the daily basis at enormous cost.“How does a country that has no Navy really sink one third of the russian Black Sea fleet and force the final ship with the russian colour to withdraw from the centuries occupied port of Sevastopol?”, - he underlined.General Petraeus is confident that Ukraine continues its advances in this regard (unmanned aerial and maritime vehicles). He also mentioned huge losses that Russia has. Moreover, the economic sanctions “are beginning to bite”, and they should be tightened.He also stressed that Russia had to bring in 10 thousand North Korean soldiers, who are essentially used as human cannon fodder. And in fact on the frontlines, the Russians have really begun to run out of tanks and some of the other systems.“They’re not even using them near the frontline because they get knocked out so quickly by Ukrainian drones and anti-armour systems. And so they are literally fighting infantry soldiers advancing a block or two in a day. I wish they were not achieving even that kind of progress on a daily basis. But, at the end of the day, what Ukraine has done in these circumstances is nothing short of miraculous”, - General Petraeus argued.According to him, it’s been a very long time since Russians have achieved anything of real note on the frontline, but Pokrovsk is real worrisome”.Kyiv Security Forum, established by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk “Open Ukraine” Foundation, is the major platform in this country to discuss problems of war and peace, issues of national and global security.

Ukraine continues to develop cutting-edge technologies that literally are not employed anywhere in the world, and this is the future of warfare.

General David Petraeus: what Ukraine has done in these circumstances is
nothing short of miraculous

Russia has not achieved its global goals that it had set out in time of the full-fledged aggression against Ukraine, and Kyiv was not taken in three days because Ukrainians organized themselves.&nbsp;This was the key message of Natalka Cmoc, Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine, at the KSF special event established by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk “Open Ukraine” Foundation.&nbsp;“Russia already lost. If you look at the global goals that it had set out – it hasn’t achieved them. I doubt it’s going to achieve them. And Ukraine needs a lot more support in order to win, and this is a different question. And why it (Russia) has lost is because Ukraine’s democracy, civil society is strong,”, - she stressed.&nbsp;According to her, the reason why Kyiv was not taken by the russian army in three days was that communities did not wait for the national army to come in, they organized themselves.”&nbsp;“That’s what you know about Ukrainian people, they organize themselves, they support each other. It’s is amazing. They have a democracy, they have a healthy parliamentary system, they have the civil society that is one of the most active that I’ve ever seen”, - Ambassador Cmoc underlined.&nbsp;She also stressed that: “Ukraine will be very difficult to occupy, it is not going to let it happen, and Russia knows that. That’s why we are supporting Ukraine, and not just militarily, but we want to make sure that we’re supporting that spirit that Ukraine’s has shown, including entrepreneurship, for example”.&nbsp;Kyiv Security Forum, organized by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk “Open Ukraine” Foundation, is the major platform in this country to discuss problems of war and peace, issues of national and global security.

Russia has not achieved its global goals that it had set out in time of the full-fledged aggression against Ukraine, and Kyiv was not taken in three days because Ukrainians organized themselves. 

Natalka Cmoc, Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine: Russia has already lost

NATO Allies can learn extremely many lessons from the war in Ukraine, in particular, in technologies sector.&nbsp;These were the words of Patrick Turner, Senior NATO Representative – Head of the NATO Representation to Ukraine, at the special event of the Kyiv Security Forum, established by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk “Open Ukraine” Foundation.&nbsp;Speaking about major lessons for NATO in the war of Russia against Ukraine, Mr. Turner reminded the audience that a joint NATO-Ukraine centre was opened in Poland in the beginning of this week precisely with the purpose of learning lessons, both military and non-military.&nbsp;“There is an extraordinary number of lessons to learn from this extraordinary country. Some of them are lessons that you’ve learned the very hard way during these three years of all-out war. But some of them are lessons that stem from Ukraine’s innovation and creativity”, - he mentioned.&nbsp;Mr. Turner also stressed that development and use of all kinds of drones, short-and long-range ones, and electronic warfare progress have moved at enormous speed.&nbsp;According to Mr. Turner, the massive challenge today is the speed of innovation.&nbsp;“We are not moving away from large-scale, highly capable platforms which take many years to develop and produce. But it is clear that we’ll have to think very differently in future. The gap between what has been done and learnt here and where we are is large. And we need to close that gap. So, we’re very grateful to Ukrainian colleagues for what we are learning from them, and there’s a lot more that we need to learn from them, - Senior NATO Representative emphatically stressed.&nbsp;Kyiv Security Forum, established by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk “Open Ukraine” Foundation, is the major platform in this country to discuss problems of war and peace, issues of national and global security.

NATO Allies can learn extremely many lessons from the war in Ukraine, in particular, in technologies sector. 

Patrick Turner, Senior NATO Representative: there is a great number of
lessons that Alliance can learn from the war of Russia against Ukraine

The best way to pull the rug from under (the feet of) those who want to destabilize Ukraine is to pass a Resolution by the Ukrainian Parliament on holding presidential elections six months after a comprehensive peace agreement is reached and signed, - the Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum emphasized at the KSF special event in Kyiv, the capital city of Ukraine, on February 21, 2025.Mr. Yatsenyuk reminded the audience that according to the Constitution of Ukraine the Parliament of Ukraine is the sole power authorized to establish the election date. So, the Parliament (the Verkhovna Rada) must do this job and express the will of Ukrainian people”.“A Resolution passed by the Parliament must clearly outline the respective conditions to conduct democratic and free elections. It is all crystal clear: Ukraine conducts free and democratic elections six months after the comprehensive peace agreement is signed. Full stop”, - Arseniy Yatsenyuk underlined.“This way, you deal a trump card to (President) Trump and pull the rug from under the feet of those who dream to destabilize Ukraine”, - he added.Kyiv Security Forum, organized by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk “Open Ukraine” Foundation, is the major platform in this country to discuss problems of war and peace, issues of national and global security.

The best way to pull the rug from under (the feet of) those who want to destabilize Ukraine is to pass a Resolution by the Ukrainian Parliament on holding presidential elections six months after a comprehensive peace agreement is reached and signed, - the Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum emphasized at the KSF special event in Kyiv, the capital city of Ukraine, on February 21, 2025.