The United States of America, which maintains its global leadership, cannot merely act as a mediator in the war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum and Prime Minister of Ukraine in 2014–2016, made this statement during a special KSF discussion involving Ukrainian and American diplomats marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.

“The United States has always been a pillar of global security. Ukraine has become a pillar of European security. The United States is the leader of the free world, and a leader cannot remain neutral. A leader cannot merely act as a mediator in an aggressive war. A leader must defend the victim. And this victim is a strong one. And it will prevail. That is Ukraine,” he noted.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk emphasized that U.S. support is a key condition for victory.

“We can win this war with the support of the United States. It is an absolute necessity that the U.S. stand with us. And we have the support of the American people,” said the KSF Chairman.

He also noted that about 70% of Americans support Ukraine and addressed the diplomats present at the meeting: “I sincerely ask you to speak out about this and to do what you do so brilliantly: tell the truth about Ukraine, convince the American public that it is in the interest of U.S. national security to provide Ukraine with a new security assistance package in the form oflend-lease or a loan, to increase pressure on Russia, to impose new sanctions and strengthen existing ones, to grant licenses for the production of Patriot missiles in Ukraine, to expand military-technical and defense cooperation between the U.S. and Ukraine, to stand shoulder to shoulder with the EU and Ukraine, and to find a way to convince China and India to take the right side of history.”

Speaking about the current security situation in Ukraine, Arseniy Yatsenyuk noted that the aggressor shows no intention of returning to the negotiating table.

“You know very well that Putin is not ready to back down. He is not ready for any peace talks. He has no intention of yielding. But we have the strength and power to force him to yield, to increase the pressure on him, and to win the war,” the politician concluded.

The discussion took place as part of the new project “Kyiv Security Forum: Deep Strike”—a series of expert discussions on pressing issues and key trends in Ukraine’s security, economy, and foreign policy. The project aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the most critical challenges shaping the country’s future.

Participants in the discussion included Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum and Prime Minister of Ukraine in 2014–2016; Danylo Lubkivsky, member of the Kyiv Security Forum’s Security Council and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine in 2014; John Herbst, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine (2003–2006); Marie Yovanovitch, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine (2016–2019); Oksana Markarova, Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States (2021–2025); Jeffrey Payette, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine (2013–2016); Steven Pifer, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine (1998–2000); Valeriy Chaly, Ambassador of Ukraine to the U.S. (2015–2019).

A video recording of the discussion is available in Ukrainian here and in English here.

The Kyiv Security Forum (KSF), founded by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Open Ukraine Foundation, is Ukraine’s leading international discussion platform on issues of war and peace. Prominent international leaders, politicians, diplomats, experts, activists, and journalists participate in KSF events. The platform operates on several levels simultaneously: keeping Ukraine in the spotlight of the global agenda; expanding our country’s circle of international partners; and building expertise on pressing security issues.