If Ukraine fails against Russia, war will come to Europe: Dmitry Kuleba
Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba warned of potential consequences for the European Union if Ukraine fails to win its fight against Russia, telling CNBC that “if Ukraine fails, the war will be on the streets of European cities.”
Kuleba said, citing the recent overthrow of the Russian-backed Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria as an example, “Putin has no power or authority to fight multiple wars today.” However, he has “the resources to fight one war at a time,” meaning that if Ukraine falls, Europe will be next in the Russian president’s sights, Kuleba warned.
Regarding NATO membership – a guarantee that Ukraine has been pursuing for years – Kuleba called it a necessary step to prevent the conflict with Russia from re-igniting in the future.
“The postponement of Ukraine’s membership in NATO can theoretically help to stop the fighting and create a ceasefire,” he said, “but it will not prevent the second Russia-Ukraine war.”
A view of the destruction caused by the Russian attack in the Kostiantynivka region of Ukraine on November 21, 2024.
Diego Herrera | Anatolia Getty Images
Security guarantees as an alternative to membership are not enough, Kuleba added, adding that most of the offers have already been made to Ukraine under commitments signed with many countries, including Great Britain.
The former minister was sure that when “serious people” sit down to discuss the prospect of Ukraine joining the alliance, they will understand that this is the only progress.
The issue of Ukraine’s membership in NATO has been difficult and sensitive for several members of the organization, and their unanimous approval is required to admit a new member state.
President-elect Donald Trump
As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House in January, Kuleba said it remains to be seen what specific policies he will implement, calling the recent talks between Zelenskiy and Trump a “good sign.” The two leaders met with French President Emmanuel Macron on the eve of the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. After meeting with the Ukrainian president, Trump called for an “immediate ceasefire” in the almost three-year war.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmitry Kuleba participates in a joint briefing with Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Hanke Bruins Slot.
Future Publishing | Getty Images
Donald Trump had previously claimed during the election campaign that if elected, he could end the war “in 24 hours”. Kuleba stressed that the “key to peace” is not in Kiev, but in Moscow. The former foreign minister said that Trump’s main focus should be on how to get Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate in good faith.
As for the potential terms of a peace deal, Kuleba said President Zelensky would “do everything in his power to prevent any peace settlement from being achieved at the expense of Ukraine” — and that no political leader in Ukraine would ever allow territory to be ceded. because it is against the country’s constitution.
Using US weapons to strike inside Russia
Speaking to Time magazine this week, President-elect Trump criticized President Joe Biden’s latest major policy change, which allowed Ukraine to use US-supplied ATACMS to launch strikes on Russian territory. He called the move “madness” and accused the administration of “escalating the war and making it worse.”
Earlier on Friday, a Kremlin spokesman praised Trump’s criticism, saying his comments coincided with Moscow’s “seeing the reasons for the escalation.”
When asked about Trump’s statements, Kuleba said that Ukraine “cannot sit on its hands” while Russia continues to escalate. “When the enemy throws more and more cannon fodder into the battle to capture more villages and square kilometers of your land… there is nothing wrong with retreating,” he said.
In the early hours of Friday morning, Russia launched a large-scale attack targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. The Ukrainian government said that about 200 drones and 93 missiles were launched into the country during the attack.
English