Chair of the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU, Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, spoke at the Inter-Parliamentary Conference on the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Security and Defence Policy in Warsaw.

In her speech on strengthening European defence in the face of Russian aggression against Ukraine, Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze emphasised that it is time for Europe to take care of its security. “Churchill said that Americans will always do the right thing after they have tried everything else. I am convinced that we all here share the hope and expectation that the United States will return to Europe. At the same time, we must understand that Europe must learn to ensure its security on its own. It must be ready to do this without the U.S. support,” said the Chair of the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU.

Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze believes that one of the first steps in building a future strong European defence should be the establishment of an axis of London, Paris, Berlin, Warsaw and Kyiv. “This may be one of the first pillars of European security. In Ukraine, we have one of the most powerful and combat-ready armies in Europe. Poland, with its almost 5% GDP contribution to security and defence, also has the capabilities to create such forces. I think that Britain can continue to lead a coalition of the willing. France can and should take responsibility for Europe’s nuclear independence from the United States. And Germany can and should provide the financial power to make all this possible. If Europe secures all these pillars, everything else will follow,” said Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze.

She stressed that the changes taking place in the world order are irreversible. She is also convinced that the European Union should consider revoking the unanimity requirement in defence and security issues and start acting immediately. “Europe should realise as soon as possible that the caravan of summits will not protect us. The caravan of summits does not shoot, does not defend, does not fight. It cannot function as artillery, air defence, a multiple launch rocket system, a drone or weapons equipment. Real action is already overdue. Europe must recognise that security is a value,” said the Chair of the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU.

Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze is convinced that the real achievement of the emerging coalition of the willing will be the formation of a European Defence Alliance, of which Ukraine will be an integral part. “Remember, together we are much stronger than Putin — economically, militarily, technologically. We must use this opportunity and act accordingly,” concluded the Chair of the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU. She is convinced that the change in the rhetoric and actions of European political elites would indicate that they understand the value of security. “Instead of ‘we will support Ukraine as much as necessary’, or even ‘we will support Ukraine no matter what’, we need to move to – although it may seem scary to many of you – ‘we are a direct party to this confrontation’,” said Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze. She called on European societies not to abandon security for the sake of social prosperity, because otherwise they risk losing both. Europe, according to the Chair of the Committee, should stop deceiving itself and should admit that a predator is already at its doorstep. “Courageous, determined Ukrainians, with your generous support, are holding back that tsunami of evil so that it does not flood Europe. It is time to use all capacities and power to stop and defeat the enemy. This means putting aside many of your internal disagreements and even some historical discussions. We have no alternative to preserving the future. We must act now. We must make sure that Russia suffers a strategic defeat, that it is punished and is restrained in its imperial aspirations. This seems to be the only alternative we have. Let's make it work,” concluded Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze.