Ukrainian Youth visualized the future of Ukraine as a member-state of the EU and NATO, calling on the Alliance to make Ukraine join in.  

A respective letter of address was made public at the 10th Youth Kyiv Security Forum, organized by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk “Open Ukraine” Foundation, and attended by over 100 young leaders from across Ukraine.

“We feel honored to address you on behalf of all Youth of Ukraine attending the Kyiv Security Forum. We would like to express our absolute certainty that the future of Ukraine is with the Alloance, and this country wills and can instil new energy and commitments to the Alliance membership”, - quoting the address to the NATO Secretary General.

“We have developed new experience, novelty expertise, new-fangled approaches and modern strategies. We have proven the efficiency of our unmanned technologies and tactical innovations. We are confident that our experience assists ensuring comprehensive security to the whole Alliance, as well as strengthening collective defences and safeguards for the whole world, - the address letter authors emphasize.

Young people argue that Ukraine’s membership in the Alliance can send a forceful signal international investors about stability of Ukraine, hence, leading to increased foreign direct investment, support of its economy and enhance European sustainability.

“Ukraine can become a trusted partner ready to engage in joint production and technical potential contributing to overall European stability. History proves that Ukraine enjoys a legitimate right to become a NATO member-state within its historically recognized borders, - the address underlines.

German experience serves and example here, when Western Germany accessed the Alliance first, and then the rest of the country joined in.

“Ukraine must have the same ooportunity. Ukrainian youth has made its decisive choice of sharing democratic security values and collective defence not solely for the purpose of safeguarding our own borders, but to support peace and stability across the globe. Please accept our assurances of high respect and our joint wishes to build a stable future together with NATO,” – the address emphasizes.

A separate address was drawn for the Government of Ukraine, calling on it to accelerate its efforts for the most speedy Euro-Atlantic integration.  

“Your Excellency Prime Minister of Ukraine! We, Youth of Ukraine, the generation tempered in war, address you profoundly aware of our mission. In 2022, when the enemy commenced its full-scale invasion into our lands, we made our strategic choice by submitting our application to join the European Union. This move did not solely mean signing an important document, this step became a symbol of our invincibility, faith, and commitments to European values. The European Commission report published on October 30, 2024, stresses our aspirations and readiness of the whole country to persevere, and registers our progress towards the EU membership. We clearly understand what path Ukraine has already conquered, while at the same time we remain aware of more system changes needed”, - the document states.  

The Youth of Ukraine stresses that the country’s national security, including its economic, political, information, energy, and social aspects can be ascertained by the country’s accession to the EU.

“Integrating into the EU means taking steps towards European welfare, the latter being of paramount importance at the backdrop of the lasting war. Gaining the EU full-fledged membership demands harmonization of Ukrainian legislation to EU standards”, - the address underlines.

Young people called on to continue efforts to establish a solid and trusted mechanism of investigating top-level corruption cases and ascertaining unbiased information space and mass media freedom.

Ukraininan youth also emphasize the need to continue institutional reform agenda within the established timespans, namely, decentralization reform, enhancing civil service efficiency, ensuring independent judiciary, and fighting organized crime.

“We are the generation of changes, the generation of warriors, and the generation of winners. Europe is not just a geography notion for us, it is the values system encompassing the right of each and every one to enjoy a decent life, personal fulfillment, and equal rights irrespective of gender, race, ethnicity or religious beliefs. This is the time to take action. We keep on being resilient on the frontline, and now we stand ready to prove our capability to implement European standards in this country. We have faith in our future, and we have faith in Ukraine”, - the document concludes.

Youth Kyiv Security Forum is the leading platform to engage young leaders into discussion of national security issues and international relations agenda.