The Munich Security Conference should become a platform for confirming unconditional support for Ukraine and strengthening transatlantic unity. This was stated by the Director of the Kyiv Security Forum, Danylo Lubkivsky, on Slawa TV.

Looking at what to expect from this year's forum, Danylo Lubkivsky highlighted three key priorities: long-term support for Ukraine, the ‘awakening’ of Europe, and maintaining unity between Europe and America.

Danylo Lubkivsky called Marco Rubio's visit to Munich a ‘good sign’ and a ‘right step’ by the American administration. He expressed hope that Rubio would deliver messages of constructive and equal cooperation without ultimatums to Europe. At the same time, he noted that Washington's pressure on its European partners to increase their contribution to defence is necessary because ‘the Russian threat is and will remain.

‘America without Europe is not capable of playing the role of a global leader. Europe without America at this historic stage is not in a position to independently meet the full range of its defence needs,’ the diplomat stressed. He added that Ukraine, as part of the Euro-Atlantic space, is extremely interested in the unity of these ‘vessels’.

Commenting on Ukraine's prospects for joining the European Union, the Director of the KSF drew a historical analogy with the rescue of West Germany in the 1950s. In his opinion, ending the war is only possible if America and Europe unanimously declare to the aggressor: ‘Ukraine is protected by us in military, political, economic and financial terms; the enemy will never get Ukraine’. EU membership is an integral part of this process.

Danylo Lubkivsky warned against fragmentation of the West's position and attempts to remove Europe from the peace agreement process. He called on official Kyiv to take the lead in forming a common Ukrainian-European position: "The time has come for Kyiv to be a leader in order to push our European friends towards a sensible, competent, proactive policy... Russia is counting on the collapse of the West's position in its manipulations. Accordingly, we must act to prevent this from happening," concluded the Director of the KSF.

The Director announced that the Kyiv Security Forum will hold a special event on the sidelines of the Munich Conference dedicated to energy security. The event, which will be led by KSF Chairman Arseniy Yatsenyuk, will focus on building an energy security architecture for Europe that will prevent Russian aggressors and other authoritarian regimes from undermining the future of the democratic world.

We would like to remind you that on February 14, the Kyiv Security Forum, in cooperation with the Munich Security Conference, will hold a round table discussion entitled ‘Energy Warfare: How to Unplug Tyranny’ featuring leading Ukrainian and world leaders.