Raimundas Karoblis: Europe should provide more solidarity push for Ukraine

The Minister of National Defense of Lithuania Mr. Raimundas Karoblis calls on the European community for greater solidarity with Ukraine. He said this during the 12th Kyiv Security Forum organized by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Open Ukraine Foundation.

“We, Western countries, should provide more joint push for Ukraine. Europe should not be at the back of the process, but should become a leader in this process. We see that Ukraine is on the eastern front of the struggle, and this is a struggle for Western values. Therefore, we need to support Ukraine in all its actions in this direction,” he noted.

The Minister urged the Ukrainian authorities to continue reforms in defense sector, noting: “We should be patient. Reforms are taking place, and we should wait until the reform marathon will bear fruit.”

Mr. Karoblis noted the importance of unity of politicians and political parties.

“Because Ukraine's capacity would be ensured by this unity. The rivalry between the parties will continue, but Western values should be the same for all. The unity in the matter of continuing reforms is very important. After all, Brussels, the United States or the EU do not need them, first of all, Ukraine needs them,” he stressed.

FOR REFERENCE:

The annual international event Kyiv Security Forum was launched by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Open Ukraine Foundation in 2007. Since then, the Forum has become a platform for high-level international discussions on current issues of national security, security issues of the Black Sea region, Europe and the world.