Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak took part in the panel discussion "Ukraine's Horizons" at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
The panel discussion was also attended by President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda, U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine's Economic Recovery Penny Pritzker, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain José Manuel Albares Bueno, and Minister of Defense of the Netherlands Kajsa Ollongren. The panel was moderated by Timothy Snyder, Professor of History at Yale University.
Answering a question about the lessons learned during the last two years of war, Andriy Yermak said: "First, every frozen conflict leads to a new war. Second, there are no more local wars in the world. Every conflict, including the Russian war, is a global phenomenon that affects global security – food, environmental, etc. Third, "hacking" of international organizations is one of the tools of war. This needs to be rectified. Decisions in the modern world must be made quickly, and there must be appropriate effective mechanisms. If such mechanisms existed, we would probably have been able to avoid such a large number of casualties in our war. Fourth, a conscious and responsible policy of today should be based on values rather than solely on interests. And finally: Russia will not stop voluntarily. For this to happen, Ukraine must win."
In response to Timothy Snyder's question about what needs to change in geopolitics for Ukraine to gain a military victory and what needs to be improved in Ukrainian politics and society to make this victory most meaningful, the Head of the Presidential Office emphasized that unity is needed first and foremost both between states and within the country.
In addition, according to him, if Ukraine receives additional air defense equipment now, Ukrainian citizens will begin to return home from other countries.
"We are grateful to all our friends and partners for their invaluable support over the past two years. Thanks to our heroic warriors and this support, we have liberated over 50% of our occupied territory and are establishing corridors for further export of our grain. We have proven that today we can truly defend our independence, values and principles. And we are not tired. We are ready – it's time to finish our job," said Andriy Yermak.
The President of Lithuania, for his part, noted that Western countries should set very clear goals regarding Ukraine, primarily focusing on swift military assistance. He also mentioned the need for substantial economic support and support for Ukraine's political ambitions for future membership in both the European Union and NATO.
"Ukrainians need our support – both economically and militarily. We shouldn't talk about war fatigue," added Kajsa Ollongren, Minister of Defense of the Netherlands.
The moderator noted that millions of Ukrainians who were forced to leave their homeland because of Russian hostilities are a sign of genocide, as it leads to the depopulation of Ukraine. And if they do not return, it means that Russia has achieved its genocidal goal.
José Manuel Albares Bueno, Minister of Foreign Affairs, EU and Cooperation of Spain, emphasized the need to convey to the countries of the Global South the understanding that the war in Ukraine is not only about Europe, because if Russia wins, it will affect the security of every country in the world.
Penny Pritzker, the U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine's Economic Recovery, noted that Ukraine has a unique opportunity for a large-scale recovery. This includes talented, highly skilled personnel, highly motivated population, a well-developed system of state institutions, and a considerable path to the EU and NATO already covered.
In her opinion, along with long-term goals, some aspects in Ukraine require rapid development. For example, reforms need to be expedited and infrastructure needs to be restored quickly to ensure that the country's export potential is realized. Penny Pritzker emphasized that Ukraine currently has one of the world's best e-government tools, which surpasses many Western counterparts.
"For Ukraine, the goal is also to return its citizens who are abroad and, together with the best experts, to find legal mechanisms to use confiscated Russian assets to rebuild its country," the Special Representative added.