On the instructions of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Office of the President hosted the first constituent meeting of the International Task Force on Security and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, co-chaired by Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak and NATO Secretary General in 2009-2014, former Prime Minister of Denmark Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
The main goal of the task force is to develop a systemic vision of Ukraine's further integration into the Euro-Atlantic security space as a key factor in regional and global security.
"Russia's unprovoked aggression against Ukraine has dealt a devastating blow to the rules-based global order. At the same time, it has undermined the foundations of the post-Cold War security architecture," said Andriy Yermak, opening the meeting.
He emphasized that Russia has become the main source of threats to the whole of Europe, so it must lose.
"Ukraine is the key to Europe. This means one thing: Russia must lose the war it started. We are very grateful to everyone who helps us on the path to victory," the Head of the Presidential Office noted.
Andriy Yermak emphasized the importance of updating the system of guaranteeing European and Euro-Atlantic security, which will make the recurrence of aggression against Ukraine or the outbreak of a new, even larger conflict in Europe impossible.
The Head of the Presidential Office reminded that the International Task Force on Security Commitments for Ukraine, headed by him and Anders Fogh Rasmussen, had prepared the Kyiv Security Compact – a systemic vision of security commitments for Ukraine before it joins NATO. This document was the basis for the Vilnius G7 Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine, and later for a number of bilateral security agreements, the first of which has already been signed with the United Kingdom.
At the same time, Andriy Yermak noted that in order to prevent the recurrence of aggression in Europe, Ukraine must become a full member of the Alliance.
"Going further on this successful path, Anders and I have decided to launch a new task force to focus on the most important issues: Ukraine's security and integration into NATO," he said.
According to the Head of the President's Office, the new International Task Force includes true friends of Ukraine who have been helping our country since the first days of full-scale Russian aggression.
"Your expertise and your advocacy can determine the future of the world. I sincerely believe that the community of politicians and experts of the highest global level who have gathered here will help Ukraine to complete this path of security integration into the Euro-Atlantic space," said Andriy Yermak, addressing the members of the International Task Force.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, co-chair of the newly created task force, emphasized that its composition demonstrates a high level of support for Ukraine's integration into the Euro-Atlantic security system.
"We need to set out a clear vision for Ukraine's future security arrangements now to make it clear to Putin that we will not let him achieve his war aims," he emphasized.
According to Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Russia will continue to threaten European security unless a structure is created to deter it and prevent military conflicts in the future.
"This is not just in Ukraine's interest, but in the interest of the entire Euro-Atlantic area," he added.
According to the former NATO Secretary General, the new security architecture should be based on three pillars: first, a system of long-term security commitments for Ukraine, second, membership in the European Union, and third, NATO membership.
According to him, one of the important missions of this task force is to determine whether the conditions necessary to invite Ukraine to join NATO are met.
The task force, in addition to the co-chairs Andriy Yermak and Anders Fogh Rasmussen, also includes former President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė, former President of Poland Aleksander Kwaśniewski, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson, former Prime Minister of Finland Sanna Marin, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Former Prime Minister of Poland Marek Belka, Former Prime Minister of Slovakia Mikuláš Dzurinda, Former Prime Minister of Sweden Carl Bildt, Former Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom Lord William Hague, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Interior and Defense of France Michèle Alliot-Marie, Co-Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense of the German Parliament Omid Nouripour, Former Minister of Defense, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada Peter MacKay, former Supreme Allied Commander Europe Wesley Clark, former U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker, former NATO Assistant Secretary General Heinrich Brauss (Germany), former NATO Assistant Secretary General Giedrimas Jeglinskas (Lithuania).
From the Ukrainian side, the meeting of the International Task Force was also attended by Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Ihor Zhovkva, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mykola Tochytskyi, Advisor to the Head of the Presidential Office Dariia Zarivna, Advisor to the Head of the Presidential Office Oleksandr Bevz. From the team of Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the meeting was attended by Chief Executive Officer at Rasmussen Global Fabrice Pothier, Senior Director for Geopolitics at Rasmussen Global Harry Nedelcu, and Senior Director for Communications at Rasmussen Global Tim Allan.