Very comfortable to fight to the last Ukrainian while sitting in cushioned chair

Ukraine received a visa-free regime in a state of war with Russia, when part of our territories was occupied. By the way, few people believed it. Even some of my close friends said it would never happen, and in the Verkhovna Rada of that time, Samopomich and Batkivshchyna parties called all our actions to obtain visa-free travel a PR stunt.

Ukraine received EU candidate status in a state of full-scale war with Russia. Unfortunately, it was the war that pushed Brussels to this decision. And the main negotiators were not the government or the president, but our Armed Forces and the sacrifice of Ukrainians, who convinced Paris and Berlin, Vienna and other capitals not to block our candidacy.

Now Ukraine must fight for accelerated membership in the EU and NATO. And if we get this coveted status, when some of our territories are still temporarily occupied, it will be our success and part of the future great Victory.

When we were in power, we considered the development of the frontline territories to be an important part of the reintegration strategy. The liberated Mariupol, Severodonetsk, Kramatorsk and Bakhmut were rebuilt, developed and had a striking contrast to the occupied Donetsk and Luhansk. People who came to collect pensions and visit relatives from the territories temporarily stolen by the Russian Federation had to see this difference. We wanted them to choose a better future for themselves and their children in Ukraine, even if it was for pragmatic rather than ideological reasons.

The prestige of a Ukrainian passport after receiving a visa-free regime also worked for reintegration.

“I don't know what the current ruling team's strategy is for victory and reintegration. And some statements by representatives of the President's office  with an unclear status, leaders of the mono-majority and Co. are frankly frightening.”

The world will never recognise the occupation of Crimea, Donbas, or any Ukrainian territories. This is an axiom. If we achieve membership in the EU and NATO as a recognition of Ukraine's contribution to collective European security at a time when some of our territories are still under occupation, it will be an undeniable diplomatic success. It will accelerate the fall of Russia in its current form, and thus the return of the territories.

People in the occupied regions will definitely want to live better, in a country that is part of the civilised world, so there will be more pro-Ukrainian sentiment there.

It is very convenient to fight to the last Ukrainian while sitting in a cushioned chair. The reality is much harsher.

Not being invited to the G20 is a bad signal. The authorities should stop talking about coffee in Crimea and stop blaming Ukraine’s allies for everything. They should realise that time is playing against Russia and the world situation is changing. We need to take this into account in our negotiation strategy. The key goal is to preserve statehood and Ukraine. With Ukrainians.

Moreover, NATO has been publicly attacked by those who, a year and a half ago in Istanbul, were ready to sign a renunciation of NATO, part of Ukrainian territories and even part of the Armed Forces, having agreed with Moscow on the quantitative limitation of our army.

Now is not the time to create enemies outside. We must do everything possible to ensure that we receive an invitation to the Washington summit. Is everyone sure they will have coffee in Crimea before then? This is a rhetorical question. And only the military, not the clerks of the Presidential Administration and parliamentary fighters, have the right to answer it.

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About the author: Iryna Gerashchenko, MP, European Solidarity faction

The editors do not always share the opinions expressed by the authors of the blogs.