‘If Ukraine does not achieve its legitimate objectives in war, it will be huge loss for Europe’: Ukraine’s foreign minister 

In an interview with the New Statesman, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said he was sure the war in Ukraine cannot end without Russia’s defeat, although it is necessary to define what Russia’s defeat should look like.

“For us, the defeat of Russia is the withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Ukraine. And this goal is 100 per cent achievable if we all remain united and committed to achieving this goal. And when I say we, I mean both Ukraine and its partners,” the minister said.

However, Minister Kuleba elaborated that diplomacy is always involved in resolving any conflict.

“At the end of every war, there is a paper signed. My job is to make sure that when we have this paper in front of us, it will fix the reality on the ground, which is the absence of Russian troops in Ukraine.”

The minister continued by recommending war analysts to stop being concerned with the implications of Russia’s defeat, but to consider what else the international community can do to promote Ukraine's victory, as the country repelling Russian aggression is of utmost importance for the Western world.

“I recommend to all of these people to think less of Russia and think more of Ukraine and themselves because if Ukraine does not achieve its legitimate objectives in this war, it will be a huge loss for the whole of Europe – and in a much broader sense, for the entire democratic community,” Kuleba stated.

The minister highlighted that among the consequences would be Russia demonstrating to the entire world that aggressor countries may suffer from the war, the sanctions, and the isolation, but if they manage to endure the period of pressure, they can invade neighbors, impose their will through military force, and defend their gains by remaining in the territory and maintaining control of occupied territories.

“And this will ruin everything that the West, including the United Kingdom, stands for,” Kuleba concluded.