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REMARKS BY H.E. IHOR PROKOPCHUK, AMBASSADOR OF UKRAINE,

AT THE CONFERENCE ON SECURITY PERSPECTIVES ON NATO’S EASTERN FRONTIER AND THE BLACK SEA REGION

Bucharest, 15.11.2023

Distinguished Co-Chairs,

Excellencies,

Distinguished participants of the conference,

I very much appreciate the opportunity of taking part in this conference focusing on Security perspectives on NATO’s Eastern Frontier and the Black Sea region. I sincerely thank the organisers for the invitation and the floor to share the Ukrainian perspective.

The large-scale war started by Russia against Ukraine and lasting by now  630 days has led to tectonic shifts in security perceptions in the Euro-Atlantic space. It led to re-evaluation of security threats placing the expansionist and revisionist Russia, which is using military force to attain its political goals, at the top of such threats.

For Ukraine Russia poses an existential threat. But russia’s goals stretch beyond Ukraine as it aspires to fulfil its neo-imperial ambitions of ruining the rules-based security order and reestablishing the spheres of influence. There must be no doubt that Russia’s goal is not only subjugation of Ukraine, but renewal of sphere of influence of the soviet empire which encompassed the current eastern flank of NATO. Russia was unambiguous in its claim when in December 2021 it demanded the withdrawal of NATO infrastructure to pre-1997 positions. This is a straightforward indication why Russia will not stop in Ukraine.

It is, therefore, an imperative for Ukrainians and the entire democratic coalition to stop it and push back to its own borders. The imperative is to defeat the aggressor and restore a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter. This means the restoration of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders of 1991, which includes the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. Letting Russia retain control of any part of temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine would not conclude the war, but freeze it as Russia would necessarily attack again as soon as it restocks and rearms. The recent lesson learned is russia’s temporary occupation of Ukrainian Crimea between 2014 and 2022 when Russia asserted its control over the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov enabling it to block naval supply routes once the large-scale invasion started. As long as Russia illegally occupies the Crimean peninsula, it severely undermines security of the entire Black Sea region and beyond. The missile attacks carried out by the Russian terrorists stationed in Crimea heavily damage civilian and port infrastructure in the Danube river, including Romanian bank of the river.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Ukraine is fighting to defend freedom, democracy and values of Europe.

While contemplating security perspectives in this region and actions needed, it remains absolutely necessary to stand firmly with Ukraine and help it defeat the Russian aggression to prevent its further expansion.

There are important activities that presently take place on many interrelated tracks and help strengthen resilience in the Black Sea region. Ukraine must not only prevail militarily, but also be sustainable economically and financially.

Therefore, of great significance is the cooperation between Ukraine and Romania on increasing the volumes of Ukrainian agricultural exports whereby these countries together make a critical contribution to maintaining global food security. Following the visit of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Romania last October, the two states embarked on the path of building their relations as strategic partnership. This is a very important development in the form, substance and vision of the bilateral relationship.

We will continue to develop and expand co-operation in the triangle Ukraine-Romania-Moldova focusing on defence and security, infrastructure and transit, energy security and digitalisation.

Two days ago the official opening of the first ever European F-16 Training Center took place in Romania. This project is an important milestone both for cooperation within NATO, for Ukraine-Romania and Ukraine-NATO cooperation and for security of the Black Sea region. It will allow to start training there of Ukrainian pilots in the near future and will accelerate the training of Romanian pilots to operate F-16 jets. This is a tangible step towards realization of the F-16 international coalition in support of Ukraine, that was formalized in Vilnius.

Dear friends,

For stability and security in Europe, including the NATO Eastern flank and the Black sea region, peace must be won in the ongoing fierce battles against the Russian aggression on the Ukrainian territory.

To win it is critically important to achieve:

• first and foremost, a radical increase in the capabilities of the Defence Forces of Ukraine. It is necessary to procure the necessary weapons, including air defence systems and fighter jets, heavy weaponry and ammunition, including longer range missiles. Hardware and ammunition must reach Ukrainian Defence forces as soon as possible;
• second, sanctions pressure on russia must be implemented 100% and be further stepped up in relation to different sectors of economy of the terrorist state. Notably, restrictive measures are needed against russian nuclear industry. We need to be clear and focused on the goal – to ruin russia’s ability to wage the war of aggression;
• third, Ukraine’s rapid progress to achieving full-fledged membership in the EU and NATO. This will be a decisive contribution to stability and security on the continent where Ukraine serves as a linchpin of security. We very much welcome the recommendation on beginning of the accession talks with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova which the European Commission presented last and expect this historic decision to be finalized by the European Council next month. We also do expect that the long-awaited decision with regard to Ukraine’s membership will be adopted at the upcoming Washington NATO Summit in 2024. Ukraine's membership will reinforce both Ukraine and NATO. At the Vilnius summit, the Allies agreed that the future of Ukraine is in NATO, recognized that Ukraine’s path to full Euro-Atlantic integration has moved beyond the need for the MAP.Invitation of Ukraine to NATO will eliminate any strategic ambiguity about Ukraine’s security arrangements and thus serve as deterrence to continuing Russia’s claims. It is in this context that I would recall the words of US President Harry Truman from his address on the occasion of signing of the North Atlantic Treaty on 4 April 1949, “It is a simple document, but if it had existed in 1914 and in 1939, supported by the nations who are represented here today, I believe it would have prevented the acts of aggression which led to two world wars”. NATO acts as a shield against external aggression. It is indeed the most successful defence alliance in history and Ukraine naturally belongs to it. Steady progress towards accomplishment of the goals of EU and NATO membership is an important component of Ukrainians’ confidence in the country’s future.
• We rely on support of our partners in achieving these goals.

Before concluding, I would like to express my profound gratitude to all, who have supported and continue to support Ukraine showing firm solidarity, empathy and a sense of common purpose in defence of shared democratic values.

Thank you for attention.