Ukrainians are defending not only their land, freedom, independence. They are defending Europe from the Russian horde. We have a saying: "My house is on the outskirts – I am the first to meet the enemies". So now on the territory of Ukraine there is a fierce confrontation between two systems - democracy and dictatorship, future and past, civilization and savagery. Here and now the further destiny of the world and the framework of its existence is decided.
The first to lend us a shoulder in providing protective equipment, weapons, and military hardware were our fellow brothers, who are, so to speak, "in the second echelon" of the front line – Poland and the Baltic countries. Because they understood well that if the Ukrainians do not stop the Russian horde, it will move on…
Speaking in the European Parliament recently, Speaker of Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk stressed the fact obvious for Ukrainians: if the EU does not support Ukraine, Putin will be allowed to move on to Europe. By the way, on the same day, Russian State Duma "answered" with the bill on cancellation of acts of independence of the Baltic states, first of all, of Lithuania.
Thanks to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Ukrainian people, the unity of politics and diplomacy, the support of the United States, Great Britain, and the EU member states, Ukraine won the first round of the war. At a very high cost to the lives of their defenders, children and women killed by rocket bombings by Russian troops, tortured civilians in Bucha, Irpen, Borodyanka, and Gostomel…
Only recently, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced the losses of the Armed Forces: “The situation is very difficult, we are losing 60-100 soldiers a day killed and almost 500 wounded in battle. That is why we are keeping our defensive lines," he said, adding that the situation in eastern Ukraine is the most difficult.
Thus, in the East, the second phase of the Kremlin's "special operation" in Ukraine is underway – the battle for Donbas. Like the first, failed one (attack on Kyiv), it does not fit into the war schedule created in Moscow.
The heroic defense of Mariupol, the heroism of the Azovstal defenders, the hunger sieges of Ukrainian towns and villages by the occupiers, the rape of children by ruscists (Russian fascists), the tortures, looting are all inscribed in the terrible history of the Russian savages’ barbaric invasion of our land, which stands as a fortress on their way to Europe.
Now the war is entering a positional phase. The ruscists lack strength to attack. We lack weapons. Because the procedure of the American Lend-Lease is taking a little longer. And the announced assistance from some European countries, as it turns out, got stalled even at the stage of political (un)decisions.
Meanwhile, the immediate supply of heavy weapons is a condition for stopping the Russian aggressor at the borders of Europe, for our victory and for saving the lives of Ukrainians. Currently, the issue is moving very slowly due to the consensual decision-making process in international organizations, differing views on its solution and the corresponding opposition of a group of European appeasers who are now trying to "save Putin's face" and promote "peace talks" on the bloody dictator’s terms. The hope today is again on the United States and Great Britain. Although the EU is well aware of Ukraine's role in Europe's security.
"Ukraine is already an honorary member of our Union, because it sheds blood in defense of both its territory and our freedoms. Its place is with us. And if they are candidates, it means they will be with us, "said Nathalie Loiseau, Chair of the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Security and Defense, commenting on the draft EU recommendations on the EU's Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) for EU summit participants. The summit will consider granting Ukraine the status of a candidate for membership in the European Union on June 23-24.
The MEP stated that the EU's security policy had failed, which was confirmed by Russia's aggression against Ukraine. She stressed that when Ukraine asks to join the European Union, the EU itself should accept it with gratitude, because Ukrainians shed blood not only for their land, but also for the freedom of Europe. And the supply of weapons to Ukraine is the responsibility of the European Union. That's why the weapons for Ukraine should be supplied according to the needs determined by Kyiv.
In turn, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov specified the expectations for receiving weapons from partner countries:
- NATO-style MLRS and the corresponding ammunition;
- complete replacement of some existing Soviet-style calibers with NATO standard platforms;
- to secure hundreds of units of heavy armored vehicles, without which an effective counterattack is impossible;
- receive combat aircraft and air defense / anti-missile weapons.
If we number the needs according to "essentials", then #1 is strengthening the artillery. By increasing the number of HIMARS and M270 starters. And in general, the transition to NATO artillery systems, which is extremely important. Because, as acknowledged in the Ukrainian MoD, Soviet-style guns have been worn out, the corresponding shells are not produced, and at the warehouses "we have reached the bottom." And it was only thanks to the transfer of 155-mm systems by the international partners to the AFU that it was possible to temporarily satisfy the "shell hunger".
Need #2 – heavy armored vehicles of NATO standards. After all, Soviet equipment is mostly obsolete with shells also lacking. So far, Ukraine receiving M1 Abrams or Leopard 2 tanks is suspended in the air due to Germany's political "pacifism"…
And the most important thing in this list is to get combat aircraft. Because this weapon is the most versatile, as it solves the problem of air defense, gaining an advantage in the sky and then – strikes at the enemy. At the same time, means of air- and anti-missile defense should be deployed. In this case, the supply of all weapons should be in the form of integrated units that are immediately ready to perform combat missions, the so-called “organic units”.
These are heavy weapons and military equipment, without which it is impossible to conduct large-scale offensive operations. This is constantly being discussed in Ukraine, as well as in NATO and the EU.
To curb the main threat to the civilized world, a country whose army and rear is dozens of times larger than Ukraine's, we need not only strong military and monetary assistance from the anti-Putin coalition, but also a sense of moral support from powerful geopolitical players. First of all, from the countries of Europe that proclaim democratic values and freedoms, for which Ukrainians are now shedding blood and dying. Kyiv expects such support from Brussels, where the European Council will consider the European Commission's conclusions on Ukraine's application for EU membership and decide on granting us a candidate status.
"Europe must say Yes. Europe must send a powerful impetus to the Ukrainian people. A powerful impetus to the Ukrainian soldiers at the forefront that all that the Ukrainian people are suffering for today is not in vain,” said Verkhovna Rada Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk on the eve of the historic event.
