Maksym Kononenko, extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Estonia, sat down for his first interview in Estonia as Ukraine prepared to mark its 32 years since the restoration of its Independence – and 547 days since the full-scale Russian invasion – on 24 August 2023.
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After Russia invaded Ukraine, the diplomatic scene witnessed many collective walkouts at international venues when the representatives from the aggressor country took the floor – a symbolic gesture of protest and disgust with the Russian policy and those who defend it.
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Russia is becoming harder to study, but understanding it is crucial. To ensure their work is cogent, unbiased, informed, and thus as useful as possible, scholars must engage in debate, question assumptions, and be open to new technologies.
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Following WWII, Türkiye linked its security to the Western defence system, joining NATO in 1952. This connection protected it against Soviet expansionism, helped modernise and expand its armed forces, and integrate them with the community of democracies that it aspired to join. Also, Türkiye’s economy based on import substitution was extended support by its allies in return for the security value that the country offered.
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The issue of European security is often misunderstood because it covers multiple realities. Guaranteeing Europe’s security means preparing for an attack on its territory, which increasingly coincides with that of NATO members.
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A turning point can come as early as these spring and summer months, says Dr Pavel Baev, professor at the Peace Research Institute in Oslo. Neither we nor Russians need the Pentagon leaks to see how seriously Ukraine has been preparing for a new offensive to liberate the occupied parts of the country. And it makes Russians nervous.
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In 1944, the Soviet regime deported over 190,000 Crimean Tatars from their homes – an act of ethnic cleansing. Today, Kyiv calls Russia’s actions against Ukraine a genocide. What are the historical parallels?
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The year of Russian aggression against Ukraine changed the security configuration in Europe. What did not change was a perception of the enlargement by NATO itself – the self-restrains and myths cultivated for decades. Yet Finland and Sweden’s acceptance has started a tectonic shift.
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Defence spending has often been the cause of bitter arguments among NATO Allies. In today’s worsened security environment, Allies will doubtless need to return to this thorny topic at their July summit in Vilnius.
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A common Western policy on Russia requires a herculean effort. Yet European unity will be short-lived unless—once the war ends—Ukraine receives the only security guarantee that has proven effective—that is, membership in NATO.
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