Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze: ‘The only negotiations we can conduct are negotiations on reparations, on the punishment of all those guilty of the war, and on compensation for damages’

She noted that after defeats on the battlefield, the Kremlin is trying to create a humanitarian crisis, sowing panic in Ukrainian society. But with each of its attacks, it achieves the opposite result: ‘After each attack, there is only a greater desire to help the Armed Forces, support the army, and make even more efforts to liberate our land as soon as possible.’

According to Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, the united efforts of society to fight and oppose the occupiers are growing, but the resources for this fight in Ukraine are currently limited. Almost 50% of the energy infrastructure has already been destroyed. Therefore, Ukraine needs even greater mobilisation not only in society, but also among allies. ‘We need the mobilisation of the West, the so-called “energy Ramstein”. I am glad that a lot of aid, in particular, generators have been sent to Ukraine, but the problem has not been solved. To survive this difficult winter, we need not only generators, but also transformers, switches, other equipment and components for repairing the power system,’ the Chair of the Committee emphasised.

However, above all, according to Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Ukraine needs more weapons to liberate its territories, as well as air defence and missile defence equipment to protect civilians and infrastructure. This is the only way, she is convinced, that Ukraine can survive and win this war.

In the West, Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze believes, there is already an understanding that Ukraine may not lose. But there is still no clear understanding and agreement that Ukraine should win. And there is also no understanding of what victory over Russia means. ‘And that's the problem. This creates additional barriers regarding which weapons to supply to Ukraine. This leads to the fact that we are one step behind Russia with our response. If we all agree with the narrative that Ukraine's victory must be guaranteed, this implies a completely different behaviour of the partners,’ said Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze. She is convinced that any attempts by individual countries to talk about negotiations with Russia will give Russia the time it needs to build up its strength and regroup. Because the Kremlin, in fact, is not looking for peace. It is only looking for a new opportunity to attack.

Regarding the possible strategies for exiting the war, the Chair of the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU is sure that for Ukraine it is a complete restoration of its territorial integrity. Russia must completely give up all occupied territories and become a normal state. ‘The only negotiations we can conduct are negotiations on reparations, on the punishment of all those guilty of the war, and on compensation for damages,’ Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze said. She is convinced that the West should abandon the idea of saving Russia's face, because there is nothing to save. Russia must be punished for crimes committed in Ukraine.