Yesterday at 18:44
Your Majesty,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I regret not being physically present at the forum due to the current circumstances.
I am grateful for your award to the people of Ukraine. The Ukrainian nation has not faltered in the face of an enormous evil force. Our brave men and women truly deserve your appreciation.
My special thanks also go to the President of the Forum Mr. Josep Piqué and my dear friend Minister Albares for inviting me to take part in it.
This forum takes place in the Atlantic gates of Europe, the Toja (Тóха) island. I find it symbolic to address all of you as foreign ministers of Ukraine which is the eastern gate of Europe. A gate is currently under attack by a force that wants to destroy the European security order as such.
The future of the Transatlantic security is being decided now in Ukraine. In times like this, goals need to be clear and steps must be decisive. This is the time to stand up for what is right.
There is no other word to describe what Putin’s Russia is doing now except ‘evil’. The largest ground invasion in Europe since the Second World War. Horrific mass atrocity crimes, including the murder of civilians, torture, and rape. 395 children killed by the Russian invasion so far. Aerial bombing of residential areas, deliberate strikes on critical infrastructure. Missile terror on peaceful Ukrainian cities. Energy war on Europe and North America and attempts to steal the well-being and stability of every European family. Hunger games with the world, putting millions of people in the Global South at risk. Propaganda war on the Transatlantic space in the hope to destabilize governments. And now also shameless attempts to annex parts of other country’s land.
The only reason why Putin is doing all of this is his feeling of impunity. He mostly got away with his invasion of Georgia in 2008. On the contrary, he was awarded with a ‘reset’ and Nord stream 1. He suffered little consequences after he invaded Ukraine’s Crimea and Donbas in 2014. Of course, the attitudes towards Russia changed, but the construction of the Nord Stream 2 continued. For years, Putin has been implementing a clear plan to undermine the Transatlantic space: to dominate, intimidate, and take revenge for the collapse of the Soviet Union by restoring the Russian empire, even at the expense of conquering neighboring sovereign states.
Impunity breeds evil. Now we are dealing with a monster who attacked not only Ukraine but the entire Transatlantic space and beyond. His actions threaten Europe, North America, but also the Global South: Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. All nations who rely on the principles of the UN Charter, namely the inviolability of international borders, are now under threat. If Putin is allowed to get away with what he does in Ukraine now, then why can’t any power in the world that does not respect the borders of its neighbors do the same? If Putin gets away with the most evident crime of aggression, what would stop anyone else from committing it?
There is only one way to protect our fundamental values which have guaranteed stable and prosperous life for decades. Ending impunity. Putting the aggressor Russia in its place. Holding it to account. How do we achieve it? The obvious answer is the victory of Ukraine. I mean Ukraine defeating Russia’s invasion forces and restoring its territorial integrity by military and diplomatic means. This will pave the way to bringing Russian war criminals to justice for war crimes, crimes against humanity, the crime of genocide, and the crime of aggression that led to all of those.
I am grateful to Spain which has stood with Ukraine resolutely throughout these past seven months. The government of Spain has provided Ukraine with military, financial, and humanitarian aid. But also many, many Spaniards who opened their doors to Ukrainians fleeing Russian bombs. Spain is also determined to bring perpetrators of crimes to account and supports EU sanctions on Russia. Dear Jose Manuel, I also thank you for the clear statement by the Spanish Foreign Ministry on the non-recognition of the so-called “referenda” as well as for condemning Russia’s attempts to illegally annex the Ukrainian land.
Today, more than ever, we need unity and determination to protect the Transatlantic security and people in Europe and North America from Putin’s Russia. This includes a really tough response to Putin’s annexation plans. We all understand why he takes this step, as well as his extremely unpopular mobilization. He is losing on the battlefield and therefore throws all cards on the table in the hope to sow fear among us and undermine international support for Ukraine. We need to stand firm and reject his blackmail. The only appropriate response is to show even stronger support for Ukraine. Raise costs for Putin. Recognize Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism legally and politically. Transfer seized Russian assets for Ukraine’s recovery so that Russia pays for the damage it has done. Provide all the necessary weapons, including modern battle tanks, combat aircraft, and long-range artillery, air defense and missile defense systems.
I always emphasize that arming Ukraine is not charity. Ukraine is probably the most committed defender of Transatlantic values in today’s world.
This means that strengthening Ukraine’s military muscles is the best long-term security investment that nations in Europe and North America can make, an investment in your own national security.
If we show weakness now, Putin’s feeling of impunity will only grow and lead to even more disastrous consequences for all of us. He literally must be stopped. There are times when things are pretty black and white. Evil must be defeated and good must prevail.
Ukraine’s victory is in everyone’s interest. With recent successful advances in the Kharkiv region, we have proven that we know how to win. We have rendered void the myth of the unbeatable Russian army. Russia can and must be beaten. This is the key element to putting it in its place and depriving it of the feeling of impunity that has fed Putin’s regime for years. We should not be scared of the so-called “cornered Putin”. He will find a way to present any defeat as a win for his domestic audience given the might of his propaganda.
We hear discussions on how and when Putin’s regime might collapse. To be honest, I am not focused on that. I do care for Ukraine and its future, as well as the future of the West more broadly. I do not care for the future of Russia. They have chosen their path, and only history will show where Russia’s trajectory will bend. It’s their problem. The job of President Zelensky’s team is to make sure that Ukraine wins and that Russian criminals are put on trial. We leave the rest to history.
We are also working systemically on guaranteeing Ukraine’s security. The Budapest type of assurances has failed. This is why the Head of President Zelensky’s Office Andriy Yermak and former NATO Secretary General Anders Vogh Rasmussen have developed a document called the Kyiv Security Compact. It outlines basic principles of the future security guarantees for Ukraine and we are working actively with partners to mobilize support for it.
Ukraine will do everything for its victory, and the solidarity of the democratic world is crucial to achieving it. The victory will not come overnight. We need to maintain the global support of Ukraine. I once again reiterate my gratitude to all partners who have stood and continue to stand with Ukraine, including Spain.
Thank you and I’m looking forward to the discussion.
Read also: The new global security system for Ukraine: a report from London
