Ukraine should in the future build good or at least neutral relations with neighboring countries, guided by its own national interests and cold, rational calculation.
This was stated by the Head of the Office of the President, Kyrylo Budanov, during an open discussion with students at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.
“How should Ukraine build relations with neighboring countries in the future? In my opinion, we should adopt medieval wisdom: with those who live nearby, one must have good or at least neutral relations. And here, cold calculation is needed to defend our own interests. How we continue to live next to the territory that is today called ‘Russia’ is a separate question,” he said.
Budanov also emphasized that Ukraine’s place in the world depends not only on the Ukrainian state.
“There is no need to wait for someone to persuade or push us; we must clearly set our goal: a strong, competitive state. If we as a country and a nation want respect, we must be a strong player. The world does not like the weak—only those who have strength and the will to use it are respected and taken into account,” he said.
