The only path to peace is not through negotiations with Putin, but by exerting maximum pressure on him whilst maintaining unity amongst allies. This was stated in Brussels by Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum and Prime Minister of Ukraine from 2014 to 2016, addressing Western partners during the first high-level event organised by the newly established KSF EU Office.
Yatsenyuk gave assurances that, despite the challenges, Ukraine would weather the coming winter. The Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum identified covering the budget deficit and air defence systems as Ukraine’s key needs.
“We need to cover the budget deficit, which stands at around 70 billion euros for next year, and obtain additional ammunition, primarily anti-missile interceptors,” Yatsenyuk emphasised.
He stressed that Putin’s willingness to negotiate is a sham, and that the real path to peace lies in applying pressure. “In current circumstances, Putin is just trying to pretend that he wants to negotiate with Ukraine. That’s not true. It is a sham negotiation. The only way to secure peace is to tighten the screws on Putin and exert immense pressure on him. We have sufficient tools and leverage to do so. There is absolutely no reason to reach out to Putin and to call him,” emphasised the KSF Chairman.
Yatsenyuk called on partners to stand united, stressing that the West has all the necessary resources for victory. “We have enough strength to win this war. We have enough strength to bring Putin to justice. And we have enough resources to provide financial support to Ukraine, not to mention three hundred billion dollars allocated in Brussels. So we have everything. What is needed? A very strong political will. And I strongly believe that we do have this political will,” the former prime minister emphasised.
On October 28, the Kyiv Security Forum held a special event in Brussels entitled “Support Ukraine, Defend Europe” with the participation of senior officials from the EU, NATO and Ukraine. Key speakers included Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission; Radmila Shekerinska, Deputy Secretary-General of NATO; and Vsevolod Chentsov, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine.
This is the first high-level event organised by the newly established KSF EU Office, which began operating in Brussels on the initiative of Arseniy Yatsenyuk.