Ambassador of Ukraine to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko: “The whole world is watching the outcome of this war”

Vasyl Myroshnychenko is the Ambassador of Ukraine to Australia. He was a speaker at the fourth #UkrainianDialogue, which Aspen Institute Kyiv held with Aspen Institute New Zealand. Vasyl spoke about how the Russian-Ukrainian war changed Ukrainian society and how its outcome can impact the world.

The only way to peace is a strong Ukrainian economy and army

Vasyl сonfessed, despite the lots of discussions and meetings about three months of the Russian troops buildup on the border, the February 24th full-scale invasion was for him unexpectable:

— I have provided many comments to international media about interpreting the Russian troop buildup on the border. But speaking of me, I did not expect all that full-scale invasion that became real on February 24th. Many discussions were about Russian assault in the East in Donetsk and Luhansk oblast. We could not believe it would be a full-scale invasion on three different fronts. 

He underlined that the only way to peace is a strong Ukrainian economy and army. Also, he stressed the urgency of helping with ammunition:

— I hope that we will stop this war. But looking into the future, we can not change our geography. Russia will be there forever. Only strong Ukrainian military capacity and a strong Ukrainian economy could provide us security and safety. On the other side, the attack that continues on the Eastern front is brutal. The level of ammunition, equipment, and weapons we need is a kind of a different level. Apparently we do need some effective weapons, we need artillery, more anti-tank missiles, more anti-ship missiles. We need ammunition of certain calibers and heavy offensive weapons. We need it now and fast.

A lot will depend on how this situation will play out

Vasyl underlined that the outcome of this war is crucial not only for the Ukrainian future but also for the further geopolitical steps in the world. It also influences the situation in the Pacific region:

— I think a lot will depend on how this situation will play out because the whole world is watching its outcome. If this behavior, assertive policy, and breaking of rules will have no answer, it will set a very negative precedent for other countries. It will mean that anyone could do the same things. What is already happening to the Solomon Islands is not a coincidence. The fact that it is taking place at the same time is on purpose, and we are going to see more of that.

Ukrainians are going through something similar to the Australian and New Zealander Anzac experience

Vasyl compared the Ukrainian fight for freedom to Anzac Day in New Zealand and Australia: the birth of the Ukrainian political nation came through military aggression and tragic loss.

— Now, Ukrainians are going through something similar to the Australian and New Zealander Anzac experience during WW I. It was something that brought those nations closer to sovereignty and independence. Now, we are experiencing something similar going back to 8 years ago. The birth of the Ukrainian political nation came through military experience and tragic loss over the past eight years. But especially now, through this invasion, we fully embraced the emergence of the Ukrainian political nation, when Russian speakers, Ukrainian speakers, Catholics, Orthodox, Jews, and Muslims are all united against one evil. It is something that we have never seen before, and we can never go back to what we have been before: this is just going to be a different country.

At the same time, after Ukrainians came through this experience, they became a traumatized nation:

— Ukraine will need two or three generations to overcome this trauma. But there is something from now deeply inside our genes, into our blood, something we will remember, and not be able to forgive. I think that Russia is lost to us forever now.

Aspen Institute Kyiv launched the #UkrainianDialogue project in cooperation with Aspen Network international partners. Its goal is to create a platform for leadership dialogue between Ukrainians who fight for democratic values and other countries’ representatives that support Ukraine.