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23 November 2023, 08:36
The Chair of the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU, Ivanna
Klympush-Tsintsadze, took part in the discussion “Matching geopolitical
realities and reform needs” of the EU Enlargement Conference 2023.
She noted that the Yalta-Potsdam world order with the division into spheres of influence has exhausted itself after the end of the Cold War. But no new model has been offered instead. Economically and technologically, the Western world is in the 21st century, but it still uses geopolitical approaches of the 19th and 20th centuries. This leads to waves of aggression. According to Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Europe, once described by a European politician as an economic giant, a political dwarf and a military worm, is finally getting rid of dwarfism in politics and is making serious decisions to ensure that there are no grey areas on the continent. Thus, there is hope in Ukraine that in geopolitical competitions, the EU as well as the entire West will be guided by the policy of values of the 21st century. “You may not trade peace in Europe for the territory of Ukraine. Decisions to provide weapons must not be so long and painful. We need weapons which will be enough to defeat Russia,” said Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze. She is convinced that the West must be determined for a joint victory, because otherwise, not only Ukraine, but the entire free world will be defeated. “We must finally understand — good must come with fists. You can't defeat evil just by voicing your concerns. We can’t stop tanks with a dove of peace,” the Chair of the Committee added.
Regarding European integration, Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze noted that Ukraine is aware that the EU also needs reforms, as the candidate countries do. “It's difficult, especially when we must fight a war for our survival. We understand what a huge amount of work we must do, but to move to this agenda fully, we must win,” said the Chair of the Committee. At the same time, she insisted that the process of internal reforms in the European Union may not become an obstacle to the accession of new members: “Perhaps, step-by-step integration can be a temporary method to keep society's commitment to this complex process, but it certainly must not be a substitute to or a reason to postpone the final and full membership”. She is also convinced that it is important to have an honest and open dialogue between Ukraine, the EU and the Alliance, in particular, to ensure that the gains of the free world and the tools of democracy, which are under threat in Ukraine, are not lost. “We must work together to ensure that such achievements as the involvement of civil society and all stakeholders in the adoption of critical decisions, in the implementation of reforms, freedom of speech, the balance of power — will not have to be restored after a rollback. All these achievements were made with huge efforts over the years,” concluded the Chair of the Committee.
Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze: “Good must come with fists. We can’t stop tanks with a dove of peace”
She noted that the Yalta-Potsdam world order with the division into spheres of influence has exhausted itself after the end of the Cold War. But no new model has been offered instead. Economically and technologically, the Western world is in the 21st century, but it still uses geopolitical approaches of the 19th and 20th centuries. This leads to waves of aggression. According to Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Europe, once described by a European politician as an economic giant, a political dwarf and a military worm, is finally getting rid of dwarfism in politics and is making serious decisions to ensure that there are no grey areas on the continent. Thus, there is hope in Ukraine that in geopolitical competitions, the EU as well as the entire West will be guided by the policy of values of the 21st century. “You may not trade peace in Europe for the territory of Ukraine. Decisions to provide weapons must not be so long and painful. We need weapons which will be enough to defeat Russia,” said Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze. She is convinced that the West must be determined for a joint victory, because otherwise, not only Ukraine, but the entire free world will be defeated. “We must finally understand — good must come with fists. You can't defeat evil just by voicing your concerns. We can’t stop tanks with a dove of peace,” the Chair of the Committee added.
Regarding European integration, Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze noted that Ukraine is aware that the EU also needs reforms, as the candidate countries do. “It's difficult, especially when we must fight a war for our survival. We understand what a huge amount of work we must do, but to move to this agenda fully, we must win,” said the Chair of the Committee. At the same time, she insisted that the process of internal reforms in the European Union may not become an obstacle to the accession of new members: “Perhaps, step-by-step integration can be a temporary method to keep society's commitment to this complex process, but it certainly must not be a substitute to or a reason to postpone the final and full membership”. She is also convinced that it is important to have an honest and open dialogue between Ukraine, the EU and the Alliance, in particular, to ensure that the gains of the free world and the tools of democracy, which are under threat in Ukraine, are not lost. “We must work together to ensure that such achievements as the involvement of civil society and all stakeholders in the adoption of critical decisions, in the implementation of reforms, freedom of speech, the balance of power — will not have to be restored after a rollback. All these achievements were made with huge efforts over the years,” concluded the Chair of the Committee.