This week, 32 NATO allies will be gathering in Washington, DC, amid what they rightly describe as “the most dangerous security environment since the Cold War.”
The overarching message from Ukrainians I’ve spoken to over the past few weeks, including Inna, is: “Help us stop this war — now.”
Dear President von der Leyen,
Ukrainian civil society and advocates for Ukraine’s victory would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for your personal leadership in standing by Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggression.
Most Americans have no clue about the extent of civilian destruction, rape, murder, and torture the Kremlin has brought to Russian-occupied territories.
I emphasize the word deliberate, because bombing civilians and civilian infrastructure is the centerpiece of Russia’s strategy to destroy Ukraine, even if it can’t occupy the country fully.
We fully appreciate our knees only when they stop working. The same is true of the global order: its former benefits become apparent only as it collapses. And when order collapses, the weak usually suffer most. This law of history should be on the minds of world leaders in the run-up to the Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland on June 15th.
Ukraine’s official membership negotiations with the EU began on 25 June. It is a significant moral boost for a country that continues to fight for its survival amid Russia’s full-scale invasion. The war also threatens the EU’s security, reinforcing the relevance of security and defence considerations, making enlargement a geopolitical necessity.