Islamabad (TDI): Speaking at a solemn gathering marking three years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Ambassador of Poland to Pakistan, Maciej Pisarski, reaffirmed unwavering support for Kyiv.
Addressing diplomats including, Ambassador of Czech Republic, Ladislav Steinhübel, Ambassador of France, Nicolas Galey, Ambassador of Germany, Alfred Grannas, Ambassador of Ukraine, Markiian Chuchuk, officials and civil society representatives, Pisarski highlighted Europe’s commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, pledging continued military, economic and humanitarian assistance.
Highlighting Ukraine’s resilience, he said that Russia-Ukraine War is not just about territorial integrity but the broader struggle for democracy and European security.
“Today, I am also happy to speak for the European Union as the current rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union,” he said.
Three years ago, Russia launched an unprovoked and illegal aggression against its neighbor. Russian leaders violated fundamental principles of the international law and order, those they have a special obligation to protect as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Pisarski said.
They destroyed peace in Europe, endangered food and energy security for the rest, especially those in the developing world, he added.
Pisarski said that three long years of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine have passed; years of countless deaths, destruction and terror.
He further said that Ukraine is defending itself against this aggression and is striving to restore its territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders, which we fully support.
Ukrainians have nowhere to retreat, as their survival as a nation and state is at stake, he said.
They are determined to continue defending their motherland and their future and we are determined to help them doing just that, he added.
“Contrary to the Kremlin’s propaganda, our Ukrainian brothers and sisters have proven that there is a Ukrainian state determined and capable of repelling the aggressors; that there is a Ukrainian nation, who will not allow others to decide what future it should chose and one who keeps sending the same, persistent message: Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine then. Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine now.”
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In our countries, in those who are represented here on the stage and in the audience, we understood that not only did the Ukrainian people stand for their freedom but they also protected ours, Pisarski said.
We have stand with Ukraine because we cherish values, which underpin humanity, peace and equal rights for all nations, he added.
He further said that we have opened our doors to the Ukrainian refugees, we have sent humanitarian assistance and helped sustaining the Ukrainian economy.
We also have sent weapons, war materials and ammunition to help the Ukrainian armed forces defend their nation, he maintained.
“We will continue our support for Ukraine because we believe that only just, lasting and comprehensive peace can save us from repeating old mistakes which pushed Europe on the brink of destruction during the wars of 20th century.”
He said that we have painfully learned that appeasing the aggressors can only embolden them. Rewarding land grab and annexation will only lead to escalation of demands and excluding those – who are directly affected – from a negotiating table is not only unjust but also unsustainable.
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Therefore, Ukrainian sovereignty and the will of its people cannot be compromised in the negotiations, he stressed.
Pisarski said that we will not recognized occupied Ukrainian’s territory as a part of Russia.
Moreover, nothing can be decided about European security, European future without an active participation of the European countries, he added.
“This year we will commemorate 80th anniversary of the end of the WWII. It started in 1939 with an alliance between two revisionist states fueled by authoritarian ideologies of Nazism and communism. It ended in a deep division of Europe torn by the Iron Curtain,” he said.
Out of these tragic experiences, the European Union was born with a staunch support and encouragement of the United States, propelled by a vision of putting an end to all wars between the European countries. It took more than 40 years to unite Europe, he added.
Pisarski said that it was a transformative moment in the Continent’s history, one that ushered in unprecedented peace, democratic development and prosperity.
EU Membership
No wonder, that other European countries strive for the membership in the Union. Ukraine sees its future as a part of our integration project, he further said.
“The EU leaders took a deliberate decision to offer Ukraine the status of a candidate, which expresses our desire to welcome Ukraine as a full member of our Union one day.”
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Pisarski emphasized that the Union’s resolve is steadfast and strategic. It is not going to change in the current evolving international context.
“History proves that there are no invincible powers. From various defeats, Russia´s history reveals its vulnerabilities,” he said, adding “These lessons remind us that persistence and unity are key to overcoming aggression.”
He said that Russia, under its current leadership, knows that when Ukraine is successful in consolidating democratic institutions, building a modern economy integrated with the rest of the Continent, getting rid of oligarchs and corruption, it will never become a part of a neo-colonial project of restoring the Russian empire. This what this war is about.
“This is what the future peace is about. Not only for Ukraine, for Europe, but ultimately for Russia as well.”
Moreover, it will bring a reaffirmation of the principles enshrined in the UN Charter – a Charter which sets the fundamentals of peaceful co-existence of all countries and peoples and protects their freedom and sovereignty, regardless their size and wealth – in Europe, as well as in the Middle East, in Africa or in South Asia, Pisarski added.
