Ukraine’s Former Foreign Minister Warns of Consequences if Country Fails in Fight Against Russia
In an interview with CNBC, former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba warned of the potential consequences for the European Union if Ukraine fails to prevail in its fight against Russia. According to Kuleba, if Ukraine falls, war will come to the streets of European cities. He also warned that Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has the resources to fight only one war at a time, and if Ukraine fails, Europe will be next in his line of sight.
Kuleba also discussed Ukraine’s pursuit of NATO membership, stating that it is a necessary step in preventing a future resurgence of the conflict with Russia. He warned that putting membership on hold can temporarily end the fighting and establish a ceasefire, but will not prevent a second war from happening.
Kuleba was skeptical of alternative security guarantees, saying that most of the proposals have already been granted to Ukraine and are not enough. He believes that serious negotiations with NATO will ultimately reveal that membership is the only way forward.
In reference to President-elect Donald Trump, Kuleba was optimistic about his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the potential for Trump to implement policies that would help end the conflict. He stressed that the key to peace lies in Moscow, rather than Kyiv, and that Trump’s focus should be on making Russian President Vladimir Putin negotiate in good faith.
Regarding the use of US weapons to strike inside Russian territory, Kuleba disagreed with Trump’s criticism, stating that Ukraine cannot sit on its hands while Russia continues to escalate the conflict. He believes that Ukraine has the right to defend itself and that escalating back is a necessary response to Russian aggression.
In the wake of a recent large-scale Russian attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, Kuleba warned that Ukraine will continue to escalate its response to Russian aggression. He stated that the country will not back down and will continue to fight for its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
