REMARKS
by Ambassador of Ukraine to Romania H.E. Ihor PROKOPCHUK
at the conference “Romania’s Defense in the Fourth Year of War: Defense Industry and the Reaffirmation of Euro-Atlantic Alliances”
(12 June 2025, 11:00, Marriott Hotel, Bucharest)
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Distinguished participants,
I would like to start by thanking for the invitation the organizers of this conference – Defense Romania and its event partners.
I note that this conference is in fact a launching event of Defence Romania Security Dialogue, its First Edition. I wish that this Dialogue grows into a solid platform making a meaningful contribution to fostering regional security and defence co-operation.
We meet today against the backdrop of yesterday’s very important gathering in Odesa – Ukraine-South Eastern Europe Summit. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, together with President Nicusor Dan and other leaders of the countries of the region discussed the pressing issues of security, critical support for Ukraine, progress to peace, reconstruction of Ukraine.
All these topics retain their extremely high significance because russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine continues unabated. Today is the day 1205th. Earlier today the General Staff of Ukraine registered that the losses of Russia in this war exceeded 1 mln personnel, killed and wounded. For the last 18 months the figure stands at 628 thousand.
In the past months strong focus was placed by Ukraine on promoting the necessary steps to peace. But we hit the wall of dismissal and rejection from the Russian side. Moreover, in the past weeks they escalated the attacks.
Every night – massive ballistic and drone attacks from russia, killed and wounded Ukrainian citizens, children and women. Past weeks – particularly intensive combined attacks. The night Sunday to Monday – one of the largest in this war - 499 aerial means of attack launched by russia at Ukraine. 479 of these targets were neutralized by Ukraine’s defence forces, shot down or suppressed.
Continuing to repel these powerful attacks, Ukraine stays committed to making real progress on the path to peace. After all, there is no other nation in the world interested in peace as much as Ukraine is. Genuine peace– comprehensive, just and lasting. This requires good faith approach to peaceful talks, not imitation and ultimatums that we witness from Russia.
We have now reached the mark of 3 months since Ukraine accepted the U.S. proposal on a provisional unconditional ceasefire, lasting at least 30 days. This proposal was dismissed by russia. Other arrangements on the ceasefire relating to critical infrastructure and free commercial navigation in the Black Sea, were either immediately breached by russia or conditioned with untenable demands.
RUSSIA which started this horrible and brutal all-out war over 3 years ago remains THE OBSCTACLE to ending this war.
Dear friends,
President Zelenskyy repeatedly emphasized his confidence that collectively, the US, Europe and other democracies have enough strength and leverage to push russia to peace. Now is the time to step up the sanctions pressure on Russia to a level that would have an immediate and crippling effect for Russian economy and its revenues that finance the war machine. This week the European Commission has announced the elements of the 18th sanctions package, we welcome it. It is focused on energy sector, banking, shadow tanker fleet. This is the right direction for strengthening pressure on the aggressor state. To make it really effective – the oil price cap must be reduced to 30 USD per barrel.
The ongoing phase of the war also demands sustainable practical support, military aid to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities.
Most needed are air defence systems, long-range capability and relevant ammunition. Patriots, SAMP-Ts and NASAMS which are currently in the stocks of our partners, can protect and save lives.
I take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to our partners and allied countries, in particular to Romania, for the assistance provided to Ukraine and willingness to continue it. Nearly 40% of Ukraine’s weaponry is now produces in Ukraine, we aim to further scale up the production, but also rely on filling in the gaps from partners as quickly as possible.
Esteemed colleagues,
One should take it as a fact: if the aggressor is not stopped and pushed back in Ukraine, it will aim to advance further. There will be immediate direct military risks to the Republic of Moldova and to countries of NATO eastern flank, among them Romania. This week this particular point was conspicuously reiterated by a Russian top official when he referred to the demands in the Russian European security document of December 2021.
As we meet, a number of important high-level events, that eventually will have a global impact, lie ahead. Namely:
We expect strong decisions to be adopted at these gatherings that would have a real impact. Decisions, which will reaffirm the leadership of the Western powers and world democracies, as well as their unwavering support for Ukraine, in particular through packages of assistance to Ukraine and packages of sanctions against russia.
I would like to make few specific remarks on Ukraine's objective of joining NATO.
To make peace sustainable, Ukraine requires security guarantees and it is NATO – the most successful defence alliance in history – that provides the most reliable and cost-effective security guarantees for its member states, although defence expenditures are expected to grow now to 5% percent of GDP. What provokes russia’s aggression is weakness, what deters Russian aggression is strength and Ukraine will be a serious asset in this regard.
Ukraine's future membership in NATO will be an essential component of strengthening the overall defense and deterrence capabilities of Europe and wider Euro-Atlantic area.
The Ukrainian Army is now the biggest in Europe, having vast and unique experience of conduct of modern warfare with most advanced and diverse technologies, combat-hardened in battles with the enemy forces of a country, determined as the biggest threat to European security.
Ladies and gentlemen,
In conclusion, let me emphasize that it is critically important to act fast and decisively in delivering what must be done to stop Russia, to end its war of aggression against Ukraine. It is imperative to make Russia abandon its expansionist ambitions.
Thank you for standing with Ukraine and your unwavering support!