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If Ukraine withdraws from Donbas, Russia will not sign a peace agreement. It is a trap, and the negotiations themselves are a special operation by the KGB under Putin's leadership. This was stated by the Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum, Prime Minister of Ukraine in 2014-2016, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, during an interview with Dmytro Gordon.Yatsenyuk explained why giving up Donbas will not lead to peace, referring to Putin's speech in June 2024.‘If Ukraine withdraws from Donbas, Putin will not sign any peace agreement. The story about Donbas is a trap. Listen carefully and read everything that Putin and his gang of thugs say. They refer to his speech at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in June 2024,’ said the Chairman of the KSF.According to the former prime minister, Putin's real demands go far beyond Donbas and effectively mean Ukraine's capitulation."For example, the so-called denazification. This means that everyone who has been in the Ukrainian government from 2014 to the present day must be convicted. Next is the so-called demilitarisation. This means that the Ukrainian army must be effectively disarmed. Next are the false, bogus security guarantees, where Russia will effectively have the right to veto any security guarantee. This is a plan for the complete surrender of Ukraine. Therefore, my answer is: this is a trap. No solution in Donbas, which is, first and foremost, unconstitutional, will bring peace to Ukraine," Yatsenyuk emphasised.Yatsenyuk described the so-called negotiations themselves as a KGB special operation. According to him, Putin's idea behind the negotiations is to delay sanctions and the seizure of assets. "And the key thing is to prevent the US Congress from pressuring the White House to provide another package of military aid to the new administration. Over the past year, the total amount of US military aid to Ukraine has fallen by 99%. We received 1% of what we received in 2024. The amount of aid is practically zero," the former prime minister said.At the same time, the KSF Chairman explained why he supports the Ukrainian government's participation in the negotiation process. ‘I support the decision of the Ukrainian government. This must be done with one goal in mind – to actually negotiate not with Russia, but with the Americans, so that the Americans do not turn away from Ukraine,’ said the former Prime Minister.

If Ukraine withdraws from Donbas, Russia will not sign a peace agreement. It is a trap, and the negotiations themselves are a special operation by the KGB under Putin's leadership. This was stated by the Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum, Prime Minister of Ukraine in 2014-2016, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, during an interview with Dmytro Gordon.

Yatsenyuk: Even if Ukraine withdraws from Donbas, Putin will not sign a peace agreement – it is a trap

Russia is showing complete disregard for the peace talks and is trying to manipulate the position of the new American administration. This was stated by the Director of the Kyiv Security Forum, Danylo Lubkivsky, on Espreso TV, which was dedicated to the Munich Security Conference. He highlighted several key aspects of Russia's strategy and Ukraine's tasks.Lubkivsky warned allies against illusions about the Kremlin's intentions. According to him, Moscow's decision to once again put Mikhail Medinsky in charge of the negotiating team indicates that the aggressor's intentions are not serious. "The decision to bring Medinsky back is a return to clowning around on Russia's part. Russia is simply deceiving the American administration about its intentions. This is Putin's mockery of the American administration,‘ the KSF Director emphasised.He added that Russia is counting on political chaos in the West – the US congressional elections and the strengthening of marginal trends in Europe – to “drag its feet’ and deceive the world.The Director of the KSF drew attention to the high technological level of the Ukrainian army, mentioning the recent Alliance exercises involving Ukrainians. "The Ukrainians very quickly dealt with the NATO battalions during these exercises. This demonstrates the strength of the Ukrainian army and the extreme importance of Ukraine's presence in NATO. We are a real force capable of making a key contribution to the defence of Europe,‘ he said.According to Lubkivsky, there is no longer any explanation for why Ukraine is not being given full support: ’Ukraine must be supported on the largest possible scale, otherwise things will go badly."Danylo Lubkivsky emphasised that although the Munich Conference is not a place for making legal decisions, it remains a leading platform for the struggle for public and political opinion.He listed the main points that Ukraine should convey in Munich as follows: no illusions about Russia's intentions; ‘the awakening of Europe’ – the need for European countries to transition to an ‘emergency mindset’; and strengthening the Alliance's defence capabilities and Europe's strategic autonomy within it, with Ukraine's participation.

Russia is showing complete disregard for the peace talks and is trying to manipulate the position of the new American administration. This was stated by the Director of the Kyiv Security Forum, Danylo Lubkivsky, on Espreso TV, which was dedicated to the Munich Security Conference. He highlighted several key aspects of Russia's strategy and Ukraine's tasks.

Danylo Lubkivsky: Russia is not serious about the peace process and is simply deceiving the White House

<img src="https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/341ada53_9554_4deb_9156_e703b04cc8b8_97dabbdff5.jpg" alt="341ada53-9554-4deb-9156-e703b04cc8b8.jpg" srcset="https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_341ada53_9554_4deb_9156_e703b04cc8b8_97dabbdff5.jpg 245w,https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/small_341ada53_9554_4deb_9156_e703b04cc8b8_97dabbdff5.jpg 500w,https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/medium_341ada53_9554_4deb_9156_e703b04cc8b8_97dabbdff5.jpg 750w,https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/large_341ada53_9554_4deb_9156_e703b04cc8b8_97dabbdff5.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw" width="1000px">On February 14, the first joint event of the Kyiv Security Forum and MSC took place as part of the 62nd Munich Security Conference (MSC). The roundtable discussion “Energy Warfare: How to Unplug Tyranny” brought together leading experts to discuss the critical state of Ukraine's energy sector due to Russian attacks and the response and assistance of allies.Opening the discussion, the Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum, Prime Minister of Ukraine in 2014-2016, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, cited data from a sociological survey commissioned by the Kyiv Security Forum on the eve of the MSC. Today, 75% of Ukrainians either have very poor electricity supply or are completely without electricity; 40% have poor heat supply or are without it altogether.Arseniy Yatsenyuk emphasized that the reason for this is direct aggression by the Russian Federation: “This is, in fact, obvious. Russian troops and Russian air strikes — this is the reason for the lack of light and heat cited by more than 78% of Ukrainians.” According to the data provided by the Chairman of the KSF, 47% of respondents blame local authorities for this issue, 17% blame the central government, 20.5% blame private and municipal service providers, and 6% blame citizens who do not save electricity.<img src="https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/1_851ef98229.jpeg" alt="1.jpeg" srcset="https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_1_851ef98229.jpeg 235w,https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/small_1_851ef98229.jpeg 500w,https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/medium_1_851ef98229.jpeg 750w,https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/large_1_851ef98229.jpeg 1000w," sizes="100vw" width="1000px">At the same time, he noted that Ukrainians highly appreciate the work of domestic specialists: “The work done by technical and energy companies is simply tremendous.”Arseniy Yatsenyuk called on the international community to abandon any illusions about a quick end to the war or the aggressor's readiness for negotiations: "It is absolutely clear that Russia is not ready for negotiations. It is also clear that this war will be a long one. We expect that spring will mitigate the effects of winter, but in any case, we must be prepared for next winter," he stressed.Arseniy Yatsenyuk paid special attention to the issue of defending the energy system, emphasizing that it is practically impossible to physically protect facilities from constant attacks. In his opinion, the only real chance is to provide Ukraine with long-range missiles as a means of deterrence. “Only if Russia realizes that it will have to pay for its aggression, will this work. Otherwise, no system will solve the problem of breaking through the defense,” the KSF Chairman stressed.<img src="https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/2_7b6f024e6d.jpeg" alt="2.jpeg" srcset="https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_2_7b6f024e6d.jpeg 235w,https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/small_2_7b6f024e6d.jpeg 500w,https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/medium_2_7b6f024e6d.jpeg 750w,https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/large_2_7b6f024e6d.jpeg 1000w," sizes="100vw" width="1000px">The Chairman of the KSF suggested that the participants of the event address the European Commission and the governments of EU countries with a clear list of necessary steps and resources that will allow the Ukrainian energy sector to survive next winter and avoid the humanitarian crisis that Putin is counting on. Obtaining the necessary financial support and equipment will take considerable time, so such an appeal will serve as an urgent call to action.The roundtable event was held at the Ukrainian House in Munich, a venue that is operating directly within the MSC for the first time this year. The discussion was also attended by DTEK CEO Maxim Timchenko, Naftogaz Group Director of International Affairs and Sustainable Development Oleksiy Ryabchyn, former Chairman of the Board of Naftogaz of Ukraine Andriy Kobolev, former CIA Director General David Petraeus, former US Special Representative Kurt Volker, and other diplomats and experts.The Kyiv Security Forum was founded in 2007 on the initiative of Arseniy Yatsenyuk. The Munich Security Conference is the most influential international forum for discussing global security issues.

Allies will receive a list of assistance needed to protect Ukraine's energy sector, says Arseniy Yatsenyuk following joint event by KSF and MSC in Munich

The majority of Ukrainian citizens – three-quarters of those surveyed – face problems with electricity supply, and more than a third face problems with heating. The overwhelming majority blame the aggressor state for this.These are the findings of the survey commissioned by the Kyiv Security Forum. The survey was conducted on the eve of a joint event organized by the KSF and the Munich Security Conference – a<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://ksf.openukraine.org/en/categories/news/soyuzniki-otrimayut-perelik-dopomogi"> roundtable discussion </a>on energy security, which took place on February 14.The survey covers Ukrainians' expectations regarding the end of the war, their trust in the state, other countries and international institutions, as well as the resilience of households in the face of Russian attacks on energy infrastructure.The situation with energy supply and heating73.4% of respondents described the power supply in their homes during the week prior to the survey as poor, while 1.9% said there was no power supply at all. Only 24.4% described the power supply as good.The situation with heat supply is slightly better. 59.9% of respondents said that the heating in their homes was good, 38.5% said it was poor, and 1.4% said there was no heating at all.<img src="https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/teplo_fb_en1_b665d26085.jpg" alt="teplo_fb_en1.jpg" srcset="https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_teplo_fb_en1_b665d26085.jpg 220w,https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/small_teplo_fb_en1_b665d26085.jpg 500w,https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/medium_teplo_fb_en1_b665d26085.jpg 750w,https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/large_teplo_fb_en1_b665d26085.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw" width="1000px">The vast majority of Ukrainians – 78.7% – blame Russian troops for the prolonged interruption of electricity, water and heat supplies.&nbsp;At the same time, almost half of those surveyed (46.5%) blame local authorities. This contrasts with December 2022, when 13.6% of respondents blamed local authorities.<img src="https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/teplo_fb_en2_8bbb1e0daf.jpg" alt="teplo_fb_en2.jpg" srcset="https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_teplo_fb_en2_8bbb1e0daf.jpg 220w,https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/small_teplo_fb_en2_8bbb1e0daf.jpg 500w,https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/medium_teplo_fb_en2_8bbb1e0daf.jpg 750w,https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/large_teplo_fb_en2_8bbb1e0daf.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw" width="1000px">Private and municipal service providers are blamed by 20.5% of respondents (in December 2022, this figure was 17.7%). The President and Government of Ukraine are blamed by 17.4% of respondents (in December 2022, this figure was 12.7%).The share of those who blame Western countries for insufficient assistance has fallen sharply, from 25% in December 2022 to 4.3% in February 2026.Consequences of Russian shellingThree-quarters of respondents reported that their area had been affected by Russian attacks: 42.4% seriously and 33.8% slightly. Only 15.5% said their community had not been affected. 7.6% of respondents reported that they or their families had suffered physical or material damage as a result of Russian attacks.<img src="https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/teplo_fb_en3_3fff1b5e69.jpg" alt="teplo_fb_en3.jpg" srcset="https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_teplo_fb_en3_3fff1b5e69.jpg 220w,https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/small_teplo_fb_en3_3fff1b5e69.jpg 500w,https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/medium_teplo_fb_en3_3fff1b5e69.jpg 750w,https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/large_teplo_fb_en3_3fff1b5e69.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw" width="1000px">More than a third of respondents – 36.8% – believe that Ukraine should intensify its attacks on Russia's critical infrastructure. A relative majority of respondents – 44.8% – believe that Ukraine should continue to act as it is doing now. Only 4.5% are willing to agree to all of Russia's conditions in order to end the war sooner.

The majority of Ukrainian citizens – three-quarters of those surveyed – face problems with electricity supply, and more than a third face problems with heating. The overwhelming majority blame the aggressor state for this.

Three-quarters of Ukrainian citizens have problems with electricity supply and heating, and blame Russia for this, according to a survey by the Kyiv Security Forum

The next winter in Ukraine may be even tougher than the current one, and Ukraine needs to get financial aid from its allies by May. This was stated by the Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum (KSF), Prime Minister of Ukraine in 2014-2016, Arseniy Yatsenyuk on a live broadcast of Espreso following the joint event of the KSF and the Munich Security Conference (MSC) on energy security.Yatsenyuk outlined three key conclusions from the joint KSF and MSC roundtable discussion."The total damage caused by Russia to Ukraine's energy sector amounts to $65 billion. We need to start preparing for winter now. The cut-off date for Ukraine to start getting financial support and equipment to get ready for next winter is May. Anything done later than that just won't be ready in time to get the energy system up and running," said the KSF Chairman.He stressed that the second key issue is ensuring missile and air defence for energy facilities."And here we must honestly admit that despite all efforts to ensure that Ukraine has sufficient defence against Russian attacks, this will not be enough. Without providing Ukraine with long-range missiles, without Tomahawks, without Putin knowing that Ukraine will strike his facilities, without Ukraine having the ability to respond, we will not be able to ensure energy security for the country next year," Yatsenyuk said.The Chairman of the KSF also commented on the statement made by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during the Munich Security Conference."The statement is very clear: even if a peace agreement is signed, the UK, the EU and everyone else must continue to work on their security, finance the 5% for defence and help Ukraine. Starmer is quite realistic when he says that even if a miracle happens and a peace agreement is signed, it will only mean that Russia will accumulate resources for its next offensive. Therefore, Britain, the EU, Ukraine and NATO members must finance their own and Ukraine's defence," the KSF Chairman stressed.According to Yatsenyuk, during the Munich Security Conference, he did not hear a single person who believed that Russia was ready to sign a peace agreement. "Everyone is well aware that Putin is not conducting any real negotiations.The maximalist demands he made back in 2022 remain unchanged,‘ the former prime minister stressed.In summing up the conference, the Chairman of the KSF formulated three key conclusions regarding Europe's position.'First: Europe wants an end to the war. Second: Europe is well aware that this end will not come about because Russia is ready to sign an agreement. Third: Europe also realises that ending the war under any circumstances will lead to further arming of Russia. Therefore, Ukraine needs security guarantees and further assistance," Yatsenyuk stressed.On 14 February, the first joint event with the Kyiv Security Forum took place within the framework of the Munich Security Conference – a round table discussion entitled ‘Energy Warfare: How to Disconnect Tyranny’. The discussion was attended by the Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum, Prime Minister of Ukraine in 2014-2016 Arseniy Yatsenyuk, DTEK CEO Maxim Timchenko, Director of International Affairs and Sustainable Development at Naftogaz Group Oleksiy Ryabchyn, former Chairman of the Board of Naftogaz of Ukraine Andriy Kobolev, former CIA Director General David Petraeus, former US Special Representative Kurt Volker, and other diplomats and experts.The Kyiv Security Forum was founded in 2007 on the initiative of Arseniy Yatsenyuk and is Ukraine's leading international discussion platform on issues of war and peace.

The next winter in Ukraine may be even tougher than the current one, and Ukraine needs to get financial aid from its allies by May. This was stated by the Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum (KSF), Prime Minister of Ukraine in 2014-2016, Arseniy Yatsenyuk on a live broadcast of Espreso following the joint event of the KSF and the Munich Security Conference (MSC) on energy security.

Yatsenyuk after the Munich Security Conference: Next winter may be even tougher – Ukraine needs to get financial aid by May

Ukrainians show the highest level of trust in institutions that are directly responsible for the country's defence – the Armed Forces, the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR), the National Guard, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the State Border Service. Most respondents also trust the President of Ukraine. On the other hand, more Ukrainians distrust the Verkhovna Rada and the government than trust them.This is evidenced by data from a sociological study commissioned by the Kyiv Security Forum on the eve of the Munich Security Conference.The survey covered Ukrainians' expectations regarding the end of the war, trust in the state, other countries and international institutions, as well as the resilience of households in the face of attacks on energy infrastructure.<figure class="image"><img alt="image.png" src="https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/image_05267ad89c.png" srcset="https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_image_05267ad89c.png 219w, https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/small_image_05267ad89c.png 500w, https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/medium_image_05267ad89c.png 750w, https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/large_image_05267ad89c.png 1000w" sizes="100vw" width="1000"></figure>The majority of respondents trust the President of Ukraine – the balance of attitudes (the difference between positive and negative assessments) is +9.3% (40.2% – tend to trust, 11.5% – completely trust). Compared to September 2025, the indicator has decreased slightly – at that time, the balance was +12%.The Armed Forces of Ukraine remain the undisputed leader in terms of trust – the trust balance is +88.5% (57.4% – tend to trust, 36.9% – completely trust). Compared to September 2025, the indicator has increased by 1.5% – at that time, the balance was +87%.Other defence institutions also demonstrate a high level of trust:The Main Intelligence Directorate received a balance of +63.4% (62.4% – tend to trust, 16% – completely trust, an increase in the positive balance of 7%),the National Guard +59.4% (59.2% – tend to trust, 18.1% – completely trust),the Security Service of Ukraine +51.4% (60.9% – tend to trust, 11.9% – completely trust, an increase in the positive balance of almost 10%),State Border Service +50.1% (56.1% – tend to trust, 14.1% – completely trust, decrease in positive balance by 5%).Over the past six months, Ukrainians' trust in the NABU has grown significantly: the balance improved from minus 25.2% in September 2025 to minus 3.6% in February 2026. Currently, 38.3% of respondents trust the Anti-Corruption Bureau (32.5% – tend to trust, 5.8% – completely trust), 32.6% tend not to trust, and 9.3% do not trust at all. Trust in the National Police stands at 37% (32.5% – tend to trust, 4.5% – completely trust), distrust – 54.7% (42.7% – tend not to trust, 12% – do not trust at all), the balance was minus 17.7%. The indicator has deteriorated by 16.5% compared to September 2025, when the balance was minus 1.2%.The prosecutor's office is trusted by 25% of respondents. 46.2% tend not to trust it, and 11% do not trust it at all. The balance was minus 32.2%. In September 2025, it was minus 36.1%.Judicial system: 23.1% of respondents trust it, 58.3% do not trust it (45.5% tend not to trust it, 12.8% do not trust it at all), and 18.7% find it difficult to answer. The balance was minus 35.2%. Trust in the judicial system has increased compared to September 2025, when the balance was minus 51.4%.The Ukrainian government received a balance of minus 54% (49.8% – rather do not trust, 25.2% – do not trust at all). In September 2025, the balance of trust was minus 47.7%.<figure class="image"><img src="https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/image_0545cb8855.png" alt="image.png" srcset="https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_image_0545cb8855.png 219w, https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/small_image_0545cb8855.png 500w, https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/medium_image_0545cb8855.png 750w, https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/large_image_0545cb8855.png 1000w" sizes="100vw" width="1000"></figure>The lowest level of trust among the state bodies mentioned in the survey was recorded for the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine – a balance of minus 77.4% (51.3% – rather do not trust, 35.9% – do not trust at all). Compared to September 2025, trust in parliament has declined further – at that time, the balance was minus 59.5%.Negotiations with RussiaHalf of Ukrainians are sceptical about the progress of the negotiations. 32.7% believe that the Ukrainian authorities are conducting negotiations with the US, the EU and Russia on a possible peace agreement ‘rather unsuccessfully’, 17.4% – ‘unsuccessfully’.33.6% of respondents assess the negotiation process positively: 30.7% – ‘rather successful’, 2.9% – ‘successful’. 16.3% find it difficult to answer.<figure class="image"><img alt="image.png" src="https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/image_c2f4175630.png" srcset="https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_image_c2f4175630.png 219w, https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/small_image_c2f4175630.png 500w, https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/medium_image_c2f4175630.png 750w, https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/large_image_c2f4175630.png 1000w" sizes="100vw" width="1000"></figure>The sociological survey was commissioned by the Kyiv Security Forum and conducted by The Razumkov Center on government-controlled Ukrainian territories from January 31-February 04, 2026, using phone interviews. A total of 1,003 respondents aged 18 and older living in all regions of Ukraine (except for the Autonomous Republic of Crimea) were interviewed. The survey was conducted among citizens who were in Ukraine at the time, in areas controlled by the Ukrainian government and covered by Ukrainian telephone operators. The structure of the sample population reflects the demographic structure of the adult population in the territories where the survey was conducted as of the beginning of 2022 (by macro-regions, age, gender, type of settlement). The theoretical sampling error does not exceed 3.2%.The full text of the study is available <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://ksf.openukraine.org/en/categories/publications/rezultati-sociologichnogo-opituvannya-provedenogo-centrom-razumkova-i-kiyivskim-bezpekovim-forumom">here.</a>Read also: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://ksf.openukraine.org/en/categories/news/84percent-ukrayinciv-viryat-u-peremogu-ukrayini-u-vijni-z-rosiyeyu-cej-pokaznik-pomitno-zris-doslidzhennya-kbf?slug=news&amp;pageNumber=1">84% of Ukrainians believe in Ukraine's victory in the war with Russia. This figure has grown significantly, according to a survey by the Kyiv Security Forum (KSF)</a>

Ukrainians show the highest level of trust in institutions that are directly responsible for the country's defence – the Armed Forces, the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR), the National Guard, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the State Border Service. Most respondents also trust the President of Ukraine. On the other hand, more Ukrainians distrust the Verkhovna Rada and the government than trust them.

Leaders and outsiders in terms of Ukrainians' trust among government institutions – KSF survey


Negotiations with Russia are nothing more than fiction, a special operation by the KGB under Putin's auspices, which has not brought the country an inch closer to peace. This was stated by the Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum, Prime Minister of Ukraine in 2014-2016 Arseniy Yatsenyuk in an interview with the British publication <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://inews.co.uk/news/putins-ukraine-peace-talks-trump-kgb-operation-4237924">The i Paper</a> on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. The comments are quoted in the article ‘Putin's Ukraine peace talks with Trump are a “KGB operation”.’‘These are sham talks, sham consultations. It's a special KGB operation under the auspices of Putin. It has nothing to do with any kind of real negotiations,’ said the KSF chairman.According to him, these talks not only failed to bring Ukraine any closer to peace, but also ‘paved the way for Putin by giving him a platform for maximalist demands.’The Chairman of the KSF stressed that Putin can only be persuaded by the language of force.‘The US President Donald Trump still believes that he can convince Putin. But there is only one way to convince Putin, which is to press like hell on him. He only understands the language of strength. The rest he reads as a sign of weakness,’ Yatsenyuk added.The former prime minister stressed that the only way to achieve peace is to exert significant economic pressure on Russia in order to threaten Putin's power, impose secondary sanctions on those who buy Russian oil – a vital component of its military economy – and block the ‘shadow fleet’ of ships that deliver it.Yatsenyuk also noted that even US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has begun to doubt the sincerity of the Russians. ‘It had dawned on the US that nothing is really happening on the ground,’ the KSF Chairman concluded.On 14 February, the first joint event with the Kyiv Security Forum took place within the framework of the Munich Security Conference – a round table discussion entitled ‘Energy Warfare: How to Unplug Tyranny’. The discussion was attended by the Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum, Prime Minister of Ukraine in 2014-2016 Arseniy Yatsenyuk, DTEK CEO Maxim Timchenko, Director of International Affairs and Sustainable Development at Naftogaz Group Oleksiy Ryabchyn, former Chairman of the Board of Naftogaz of Ukraine Andriy Kobolev, former CIA Director General David Petraeus, former US Special Representative Kurt Volker, and other diplomats and experts.The Kyiv Security Forum was founded in 2007 on the initiative of Arseniy Yatsenyuk and is Ukraine's leading international discussion platform on issues of war and peace.

Negotiations with Russia are nothing more than fiction, a special operation by the KGB under Putin's auspices, which has not brought the country any closer to peace. This was stated by the Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum, Prime Minister of Ukraine in 2014-2016 Arseniy Yatsenyuk in an interview with the British publication The i Paper on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. The comments are quoted in the article ‘Putin's peace talks with Trump on Ukraine are a “KGB operation”.’

The negotiations did not bring Ukraine any closer to peace, but paved the way for Putin, – Yatsenyuk for the British The i Paper

The refusal of the then Ukrainian government to purchase Russian gas in 2014 was one of the decisions that deprived Putin of an important instrument of influence. This was stated by the Prime Minister of Ukraine in 2014-2016, Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum Arseniy Yatsenyuk during an interview with Dmytro Gordon."Ukraine broke free from Russia, and that's what drove Putin crazy. Starting with Ukraine's refusal to buy gas from Russia's Gazprom. Imagine if we were still dependent on Russia's Gazprom today. That was the first thing I did. Second, imagine if we were completely dependent on Russian fuel for our nuclear energy. I then began to switch Energoatom to Westinghouse, to American fuel [...] But let's start with the army. 5% of GDP is what NATO member countries [pay] now, but back then they were even afraid to talk about 5%," Yatsenyuk said.Russia's war against Ukraine has been going on for 12 years, and the Kremlin's plans for a forceful scenario were formed long before the occupation of Crimea, during the conflict over Tuzla Island in 2003."People went straight from Maidan to fight. Now there is a debate about whether it is longer than the so-called Great Patriotic War waged by the Soviet Union. And Ukraine suffered the most in World War II [...] Do you know when Putin wanted to invade? Ever since he attacked Tuzla (in 2003, ed.)," Yatsenyuk said.According to the Chairman of the KSF, it was the resistance in 2014 that saved Ukraine from the scenario that unfolded in neighbouring Belarus. "If it weren't for 2014, if we hadn't resisted, we would have become a worse copy of Belarus. Remember what happened to the Belarusians after the failed protests against Lukashenko. How many were killed, how many were imprisoned," Yatsenyuk said.At the same time, Yatsenyuk stressed that at the beginning of the Russian aggression, Ukraine was in a critical state. He cited data from a secret report by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 2014.There is a secret report that I requested in the archives of the General Staff of Ukraine. The Minister of Defence and the Head of the Security Service of Ukraine were not just Russian agents, they were citizens of the Russian Federation. They were Russia's puppets. That report clearly stated that Ukraine had 5,000 military personnel capable of taking up arms and defending Ukraine. I won't even mention the financial situation: there were only 108 thousand hryvnia in the single treasury account for the entire country," Yatsenyuk emphasised.According to him, under such conditions, Ukraine's survival can be called a real miracle created by the Ukrainian people themselves.‘We actually had two miracles: we survived in 2014, and we survived in 2022. The Ukrainian people themselves create these miracles. If it weren’t for the people, if it weren’t for the minority devoted to their country, Ukrainian values and patriotism, we would not have survived,’ the former prime minister stressed.

The refusal of the then Ukrainian government to purchase Russian gas in 2014 was one of the decisions that deprived Putin of an important instrument of influence. This was stated by the Prime Minister of Ukraine in 2014-2016, Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum Arseniy Yatsenyuk during an interview with Dmytro Gordon.

Imagine if we were still dependent on ‘Gazprom’ during the war: Yatsenyuk on the government’s decision in 2014

There are no signs that war criminal Putin is ready to reach an agreement with Ukraine – he only understands the language of force. This was stated by the Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum, Prime Minister of Ukraine in 2014-2016, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, on Times Radio.‘Over the past week, Putin has launched about 100 ballistic and cruise missiles, 1,400 drones and 1,300 guided aerial bombs at Ukraine. So there are no signs that war criminal Putin is ready to make any agreement with Ukraine,’ Yatsenyuk said.According to the KSF Chairman, Russia's military spending indicates that Putin has no intention of stopping. "Look at Russia's state budget for this year. Military spending has not been reduced. About 40% of the Russian budget goes to financing the war. Therefore, I do not see any intention on Putin's part to conclude any peace agreement with Ukraine," the former prime minister said.Yatsenyuk stressed that Putin's ultimate goal remains unchanged – to capture all of Ukraine and effectively destroy Ukraine as a sovereign and independent state.‘I was somewhat surprised by the recent interview with Special Envoy Vitkoff, when he said that Putin is sincere with him. [...] Putin is never sincere; he is a professional liar from the KGB. Vitkoff has a profound misunderstanding of who Putin really is,’ said the Chairman of the KSF.Yatsenyuk stressed that Ukraine has no choice but to win. ‘Can we hold out and win? Yes, we can. And that is why we need very strong and decisive support from everyone, including the United Kingdom. I am very grateful to the people of the United Kingdom, who really support Ukraine,’ said the former prime minister.At the same time, the Chairman of the KSF mentioned the reduction in financial support from the United States and stressed that Donald Trump ‘must realise that there is only one way to talk to Putin – the language of force.’‘We still have the Americans on board, but the fact is that US support has decreased by 99% over the past year. We hope that this will change,’ Yatsenyuk added.

There are no signs that war criminal Putin is ready to reach an agreement with Ukraine – he only understands the language of force. This was stated by the Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum, Prime Minister of Ukraine in 2014-2016, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, on Times Radio.

Yatsenyuk: 40% of Russia's budget is being spent on war – there are no signs that Putin is ready for peace

Putin is closely monitoring the disagreements between allies in order to take advantage of them. This was emphasised by the Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum, Prime Minister of Ukraine in 2014-2016, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, on BBC News on the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.At the same time, Yatsenyuk stressed that Russia's war against Ukraine has been going on for 12 years.‘Today is the fourth anniversary of the start of the full-scale war, but Ukraine has been standing for 12 years. Putin dreamed of capturing Ukraine, but he failed,’ the Сhairman of the KSF stressed.The former prime minister underlined the critical importance of unity among Western allies.‘It is important that Western allies, and above all the US administration, realise that in order to achieve a lasting, just and honest peace, everyone must be on the same page. And that means, first and foremost, the Americans, the EU, the UK and Ukraine,’ Yatsenyuk stressed.The Chairman of the KSF formulated several key conditions for ensuring Ukraine's security."We need long-term financial support, military support and weapons, long-range missiles to deter Russia's endless air attacks on our infrastructure. Ukraine must also have ammunition depots on its territory. We need intelligence and intelligence data. Sanctions against Russia must be strengthened. And all of this must be interconnected," the former prime minister noted.Yatsenyuk stressed that it is absolutely impossible to reach a common position with Russia.‘Russia wants to destroy and kill Ukrainians. We want a free, independent and sovereign Ukraine and to receive ironclad security guarantees,’ the KSF Chairman emphasised.

Putin is closely monitoring the disagreements between allies in order to take advantage of them. This was emphasised by the Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum, Prime Minister of Ukraine in 2014-2016, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, on BBC News on the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.