In his speech at the 8th Kyiv Security Forum, President Petro Poroshenko noted that not only Ukraine had changed in the course of the past year. The whole world is now looking for a new security model.
“Eight years ago nobody could imagine that security would become so important for the existence of not only Ukraine, but also the entire world,” the Head of State noted.
The President has stressed that Ukraine had been struggling for its independence and territorial integrity in conditions of Crimea’s annexation and Russian aggression in Donbas for more than a year already. “We’ve been facing challenges aimed at destroying our state for more than a year. At the moment, we’ve got reasons to be sure that the aggressor wants the entire Ukraine – weak, destabilized, with discredited European values and ideas,” Petro Poroshenko said.
The President has reminded that a year ago, the Ukrainian army had been destroyed, our weaponry had been sold out and corrupt military commanders had served Russia. Ukrainians united to defend their Homeland, up to 80% of citizens provided support to the defense of the state. “We do not have any internal conflict. On the contrary, facing external aggression, Ukraine has become united as never before,” the President said.
Petro Poroshenko has noted that one had always tried to split the Ukrainian nation on the basis of language issues. The need to defend Ukraine has united citizens irrespective of their language. The Head of State has emphasized that Ukrainians had managed to withstand due to the high morale and powerful pro-Ukrainian coalition in the world.
The President has emphasized that not only Ukraine had changed in the course of the past year, but also Europe, which had managed to unite in support of the Ukrainian state and impose sanctions against Russian aggression. The last year showed that the old security formats designed after the World War II are not effective anymore. “The UN Security Council mechanism has been elaborated, but it is not efficient when a permanent member turns out to be an aggressor and has an opportunity to block any efficient measures using the veto right,” Petro Poroshenko said. The President has emphasized that his mechanism of deploying the peacekeeping mission under the auspices of the UN would become a litmus test.
The Head of State has highlighted the importance of security discussions and forums for finding a new security system. “The world is looking for new shapes to ensure security,” Petro Poroshenko emphasized.
The President has once again emphasized that Ukraine had never wanted war and clearly complied with the Minsk agreements aimed at peaceful settlement of the situation in Donbas. However, the opposite party violates them. “Developments after the conclusion of the Minsk agreements prove that we need an efficient mechanism for the implementation of these agreements. For the word and signature do not work anymore,” the President said. The Head of State has reminded that the majority of democratic countries and international organizations stood for the fulfillment of the Minsk agreements.
Petro Poroshenko has emphasized that foreign troops must be withdrawn from the territory of Ukraine and all hostages must be liberated, including Nadiya Savchenko. The President has highlighted the importance of restoring control over the Ukrainian-Russian border. “Border is the key element of the peace plan. Close the border and withdraw foreign troops and mercenaries from Ukraine!” the President stressed. He has noted that Ukraine had provided the evidence of Russian troops’ presence in the territory of our country. “The world needs explanations for their presence in Ukraine,” the President said.
Petro Poroshenko is content with the level of support, dialogue and plans of international partners of Ukraine, inter alia, regarding sanctions against the aggressor and assistance in the reinforcement of the Ukrainian economy. The President has emphasized the need for coordination of actions in order to implement the Minsk agreements.
The Head of State has also noted that fair and free elections in Donbas would be crucial for the settlement of the situation.
The President has assured that Ukraine would be changing in key directions and implement reforms on decentralization, ensuring economic growth, struggle against corruption, building independent judicial power, deoligarchization, demonopolization and deregulation for the improvement of the investment climate. “We will build free and independent country that will have a prospect of the EU membership and meet the criteria for submitting an application,” the President said.
Ukraine will keep on strengthening its defense capacity. The President has praised the rejection of non-aligned status. “We’ve cancelled the infamous non-aligned status. Those who supported that status should be held accountable together with those who ruined the Armed Forces, because they allowed to critically lower the security level of the country,” the President noted.
“We will develop Ukraine together with the people of Ukraine and our international partners. We will surely win,” Petro Poroshenko concluded.