Ukraine’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (2021–2024), Valerii Zaluzhnyi, believes that the future of the European Union will depend on decisions concerning the end of the war in Ukraine and the establishment of new rules, but says the 27 member states are currently unable to reach agreement among themselves.
“This war is not only about Ukraine — it is about the security of all of Europe and the entire world. Is the EU today capable of responding to all the challenges facing the Union? It is difficult to say, as the experience of recent years shows that the 27 countries are unable to reach agreement among themselves, even though they should act as a single mechanism,” Zaluzhnyi wrote on Facebook on Wednesday following a discussion with representatives of Zaporizhzhia National University.
He stressed that a devastating war is continuing in Europe, “and the question is whether the European Union is capable not only of stopping it, but also of building an effective security system that meets today’s challenges,” referring in this context to the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).
“This is why I raised the idea of the JEF — because the countries in this organisation are prepared to take responsibility for security. And Ukraine’s experience is extremely important in this context — no one else in Europe has such experience. Therefore, the future of the European Union will depend on a broader decision on ending the war in Ukraine and establishing new rules for Europe,” Zaluzhnyi stressed.
