Untitled Document

[00:00:01] Please welcome to the stage the [00:00:04] president of Ukraine. [00:00:09] [applause] [00:00:15] [applause] [00:00:19] [applause] [00:00:26] >> [applause] [00:00:34] [applause] [00:00:38] [applause] [00:00:39] >> Heat. Heat. [00:00:47] >> [applause] [00:00:52] >> Thank you so much. [applause] [00:01:00] Thank you very much. [00:01:02] Thank you so much. [00:01:08] Dear friends, [00:01:10] thank you for your attention to Ukraine, [00:01:13] Ukrainian people, and for supporting our [00:01:16] independence and our Ukrainians. And I [00:01:21] want to especially thank those who stand [00:01:23] with us, not only in words or not only [00:01:26] in emotions, not only in the hope for [00:01:30] more security, but in real action, in [00:01:34] real work, in concrete help like [00:01:38] Germany, like Mark, like Ursula, [00:01:43] Antonio, Roberta, and all our friends [00:01:47] from the United States, and all our [00:01:49] European friends. Thank you so much for [00:01:51] all your support. Thank you. [00:01:56] [applause] [00:02:00] And if you are a European leader and you [00:02:05] meet Mark Ruten, [00:02:09] you will definitely hear the word pearl [00:02:15] and not not just once and very serious [00:02:18] things really. He starts and ends every [00:02:22] conversation with a call to support [00:02:25] Pearl [00:02:27] and he's right to do so. [00:02:30] Thank you, Mark. Pearl is a problem is a [00:02:34] program that allows us to buy Patriot [00:02:37] missiles in in the United States and [00:02:40] other weapons that protect Ukrainians [00:02:43] from Russian attacks. Of course, most of [00:02:46] the air defense missile that can stop [00:02:48] Russian ballistic missiles come to us [00:02:50] thanks to Pearl. And Pearl exists [00:02:54] because of Europe. It's true. Europe is [00:02:57] paying for our ability to stop ballistic [00:03:02] attacks. Thanks everyone who helps us. [00:03:06] Thank you. [applause] [00:03:13] And honestly, [snorts] one of the worst [00:03:15] things a leader can hear in wartime is a [00:03:20] report from the air force commander [00:03:23] saying the air defense units are empty. [00:03:28] Empty. And they used their missiles to [00:03:31] stop Russian strikes and there was no [00:03:35] resupply. and intelligence says a new [00:03:38] massive attack may come in a day or two. [00:03:42] Sometimes we manage to deliver new [00:03:44] missiles for our patrols or NASAs just [00:03:47] before an attack and sometimes at the [00:03:50] last very last moment. And I want to [00:03:52] especially thank Germany, Norway, [00:03:55] Netherlands for their strong leadership [00:03:57] in Europe in giving us air defense [00:04:00] systems. Thank you very much. these [00:04:02] systems save our lives. [00:04:05] [applause] [00:04:06] And thanks to every European leader [00:04:09] who who invests in Pearl and in other [00:04:12] joint defense programs. And I'm proud of [00:04:15] our soldiers [00:04:17] who repel Russian attacks and of our [00:04:21] logistic teams who have kept this system [00:04:24] working for four years. And I'm proud of [00:04:27] our nation. And it is the courage and [00:04:31] resilience of Ukrainian that make the [00:04:33] defense, they make the difference. And [00:04:37] our people deserve gratitude. They [00:04:40] deserve respect. [00:04:44] [applause] [00:04:45] Thank you so much. [00:04:50] Four years of full-scale war. Today, I [00:04:52] want to show you what that really means. [00:04:56] And I want you to ask yourselves, are [00:04:59] you ready not only for the challenges [00:05:02] that Russian aggression brings? The [00:05:04] challenges of modern war, but also for [00:05:06] the constant effort to convince the [00:05:09] world to fight for support to defend [00:05:12] your country's interests every every [00:05:15] single day as Ukraine must do. The world [00:05:20] is built on interests and you have to [00:05:23] work tireously to align interests and [00:05:26] help partners see what this brings. And [00:05:30] when you see what it what what is [00:05:33] coming, we will be able to convince [00:05:36] those in power to act preventively to [00:05:39] stop the evil before it destroys [00:05:42] everything. [00:05:45] Right now, [00:05:47] right now you can see a visualization of [00:05:50] one of Russia's attacks. [00:05:53] Many of you were already here in Munich [00:05:55] when this strike took place. Russia [00:05:58] launched 24 ballistic missiles, one air [00:06:03] launched guided missile and 200, can you [00:06:06] imagine? 219 attack drones against our [00:06:09] cities. Cave Nepro Odessa. Just one [00:06:12] attack, just one night. Our air defense [00:06:16] used the missile that arrived from our [00:06:18] partners just a few days earlier. They [00:06:22] came on Sunday is true. And on Thursday [00:06:27] night, the missiles we are already [00:06:29] protecting our skies. [00:06:31] And that is just one night, but Russian [00:06:33] attacks happen almost every every night [00:06:37] in Ukraine. And at least once a week, [00:06:39] massive strikes. Still, Ukraine has [00:06:42] endured 1,451 [00:06:46] days of fullscale war, longer than [00:06:49] anyone predicted. [00:06:52] And I want you to understand the real [00:06:55] scale of these attacks on Ukraine. As [00:06:57] you can see, in just one month this [00:06:59] January, we had Yeah, you see it. We had [00:07:03] to defend against 6,000 [00:07:06] attack drones. Most of them were Shahed [00:07:09] drones and 150 plus Russian missiles of [00:07:14] different types and more than 5,000 [00:07:18] glide bombs. And it's like these every [00:07:22] months. Imagine this over your own city [00:07:26] shuttered streets, destroyed homes, [00:07:28] schools built [00:07:31] built underground. And this is daily [00:07:33] life in Ukraine because of of course [00:07:35] because of Russia for four long years. [00:07:39] Russia uses many ballistic missiles and [00:07:42] carries out combined attacks. Most of [00:07:45] the strikes target our power plants and [00:07:48] other critical infrastructure. And there [00:07:51] is not a single power plant left in [00:07:54] Ukraine that has not been damaged by [00:07:56] Russian attacks. Not one. But we still [00:08:00] generate electricity [00:08:04] thanks to our PEOPLE [00:08:06] [applause] [00:08:15] [applause] [00:08:16] and we have kept our system running [00:08:18] thanks to physical protection of the [00:08:20] facilities and thanks to everyone who [00:08:22] helps us with air defense. Just as [00:08:24] important, Ukraine still has power [00:08:26] because of our people. thousands of [00:08:28] workers who serve millions. And when I [00:08:32] see our energy workers, our repair [00:08:35] crews, rescue teams, I see something [00:08:37] that is often missing in politics. [00:08:42] True dedication, the ability to work at [00:08:45] 100% [00:08:47] to act immediately in a real emergency, [00:08:50] not in a month, not in a year or two, [00:08:53] but they save lives here. They save [00:08:57] lives now all these years. [00:09:02] And many politicians could learn and [00:09:04] must I think must learn from ordinary [00:09:07] rescuers, from ordinary repair crews, [00:09:10] from ordinary electricians to act, how [00:09:14] to act immediately [00:09:17] during this war. [applause] [00:09:19] Thank you. [00:09:24] During this war, weapons evolve faster [00:09:28] than political decisions meant to stop [00:09:31] them. When the Iranian regime first gave [00:09:34] Russia the Shahit drones, they were [00:09:38] simple weapons. They could be shut down [00:09:41] easily. [00:09:42] Now the Shahid is different. It has a [00:09:46] jet engine. It can fly at different [00:09:50] altitudes. It can be guided by an [00:09:52] operator in real by the way in real time [00:09:55] and it can use Starlink to reach its [00:09:58] target. It can even carry other drones [00:10:01] acting at the how how we say mother [00:10:04] drone for FPVs. [00:10:07] War reveals forms of evil we did not [00:10:10] expect. And the longer a war continues, [00:10:13] the more resources the aggressor [00:10:16] receives, the more dangerous the [00:10:19] consequences becomes, the more dangerous [00:10:22] the evolution of weapons and of war [00:10:24] itself and the evolution of Putin. [00:10:30] And I remember how the full-scale war [00:10:32] was seen in the first year and we were [00:10:36] told that support would continue but not [00:10:38] at the scale and speed needed for [00:10:40] Ukraine to win. It's true or for Russia [00:10:42] to lose. And what did that mean? It [00:10:47] meant time. The idea was that America [00:10:49] could manage the pace of the war and the [00:10:52] risk of escalation to reach a point [00:10:55] where Russia would no longer be able to [00:10:58] attack. and Ukraine would agree not to [00:11:00] return its occupied territories. Bob [00:11:03] Woodward [00:11:05] wrote about this approach of the [00:11:07] previous administr US administration in [00:11:10] his book war and he described how US [00:11:15] defense secretary Lloyd Austin said we [00:11:18] own the clock and Austin had told Jake [00:11:22] Sullivan [00:11:24] numerous times numerous times we own the [00:11:28] clock [00:11:29] and Woodward writes that Salivan was [00:11:33] constantly learning from him. And of [00:11:35] course, we are grateful. We are grateful [00:11:38] for all the supplies we received. But [00:11:41] you saw how it was how how long we had [00:11:44] to push to push to push to be allowed to [00:11:49] get stronger and stronger weapons. [00:11:52] Months for himers, months for tanks, [00:11:55] years for aircraft. Everything took [00:11:58] time. This did not make the situation [00:12:01] easier for anyone because in war in war [00:12:06] the war itself itself owns time and it [00:12:10] uses the time against people. Of course [00:12:14] that is why not a single day not a [00:12:16] single opportunity to protect life can [00:12:18] be wasted. [00:12:20] Everyone who seeks security and peace [00:12:24] must understand this. every day matters [00:12:29] and I'm grateful to every American heart [00:12:32] that was helping us no matter what. [00:12:36] Thank you. Without you Americans, [00:12:38] Europeans and everyone who stands with [00:12:40] us, it would have been very, very [00:12:43] difficult to hold on. Thank you very [00:12:44] much. [00:12:47] [applause] [00:12:51] Right now on the streets of Munich and [00:12:55] other cities, people are calling for [00:12:56] support for freedom in Iran. We saw it [00:13:00] and Ukraine does not share a border with [00:13:03] Iran. And we have never had a conflict [00:13:06] of interests with Iranian regime. But [00:13:10] the Iranian Shahid drones they sold to [00:13:13] Russia are killing especially our people [00:13:16] Ukrainians and destroying our [00:13:18] infrastructure. The Iranian regime has [00:13:21] already done and can still do more harm [00:13:24] than many other regimes could do in a [00:13:27] century. And yet this regime still [00:13:30] exists and it hopes to survive [00:13:33] everything even this crisis. Today, the [00:13:36] people of Iran expect from the world [00:13:39] what we in Ukraine needed on February, [00:13:42] February 24th when the Russian invasion [00:13:45] began. Unity, determination, and speed. [00:13:49] Of course, speed. Speed in support. And [00:13:54] regimes like the one in Iran must not be [00:13:57] given time. When they have time, they [00:13:59] only kill more. They must be stopped [00:14:02] immediately. And this is exactly what [00:14:04] should have happened with the Ayatala [00:14:07] after all the wars his regime unleashed [00:14:11] and all the lives it took and with Putin [00:14:15] with Putin as well after the war in [00:14:18] Georgia after Syria after 2014 and the [00:14:21] occupation of Crimea. [00:14:24] But even in these conditions when we [00:14:26] cannot know how long this war will last, [00:14:29] we do everything to keep life going. And [00:14:32] today, Ukraine has more experience than [00:14:34] anyone in the world in defending against [00:14:37] all types of drones. Every night, every [00:14:42] night, we face fewer than 100 Shahid [00:14:45] drones. Some nights there are 400 or [00:14:48] even five 500 attack drones. And [00:14:52] Ukrainians shut down almost 90. Can you [00:14:55] imagine? 90% of them. But still not 100. [00:15:02] And we are doing everything to increase [00:15:04] that rate. Among other tools, we use [00:15:06] different types of interceptors. And [00:15:09] what you see now are real videos of [00:15:11] those interceptors. By the way, together [00:15:15] with our partners, we are producing more [00:15:17] and more of them each day. And we will [00:15:20] reach the point where we produce enough [00:15:22] enough to make shahedrons meaningless [00:15:25] for Russia. But the key words here are [00:15:29] together. together with partners. [00:15:33] And there is no country in Europe that [00:15:35] could rely only on its own technology [00:15:38] and money to defend itself. In a [00:15:41] full-scale war, no one would stand [00:15:43] alone. That is why while we invest in [00:15:46] interceptors and protection, Russia [00:15:48] invests in breaking unity between all of [00:15:52] us. Our unity with you, unity in Europe, [00:15:55] unity in the Euroatlantic community. [00:15:59] They want to break it. Why? Because our [00:16:02] unity is the best interceptor against [00:16:05] Russia's aggressive plans. The best one. [00:16:10] And we still have it. [applause] [00:16:17] [applause] [00:16:21] And I want to thank you each of you who [00:16:23] keeps unity alive and makes it stronger. [00:16:26] Our unity is what protects us. Hundreds [00:16:31] of production sites are already [00:16:33] operating in Ukraine and in partn [00:16:36] countries and we have the Danish model. [00:16:38] Thanks matter. Your team, your people [00:16:41] investing in weapons production in [00:16:42] Ukraine. We have joint drone production [00:16:44] here in Germany and it officially [00:16:47] started yesterday. Thanks to everybody [00:16:50] and to Friedrich and we have the joint [00:16:51] artillery initiative with Czecha. I see [00:16:56] better. Hi. Thank you so much. And we [00:16:59] are doing a lot together with the Nordic [00:17:01] countries with the UK and France, [00:17:04] Netherlands, Italy and Poland and United [00:17:07] States, Canada and Turkey. There are [00:17:10] important changes in Japan thanks to [00:17:12] prime minister government and we all [00:17:15] value that Japan stands with us in the [00:17:17] coalition of of the willings and there [00:17:19] are strong decisions from Europe [00:17:21] including 90 billion euros for 2 years [00:17:25] for us. Thank you so much. [applause] [00:17:34] And this is a serious guarantee of [00:17:37] Ukraine's financial stability. And thank [00:17:39] you for every strong decision for all [00:17:41] our joint work. But let's not close our [00:17:44] eyes to the problem. And Russia still [00:17:47] has accompllices regimes like North [00:17:50] Korea and companies across the globe. [00:17:53] Many of them from China that bypass [00:17:56] sanctions and provide components for [00:17:58] Russian weapons, Russian missiles. On [00:18:00] top of that, Putin still has guarantees [00:18:03] of financial stability. A large part of [00:18:06] those guarantees lies here in Europe in [00:18:09] Europe in European seas. I mean Russian [00:18:13] oil tongers still move freely freely [00:18:16] along Europe's shores in the Baltic Sea [00:18:18] in the North Sea and in the Meditaran it [00:18:23] in in total Russia still uses more than [00:18:26] thousand tankers each of them is in fact [00:18:30] a floating wallet for the Kremling and I [00:18:34] recently discussed this with President [00:18:36] Mcron with President Bonderline and with [00:18:40] other leaders and thank them for their [00:18:42] willingness to fix this. We spoke about [00:18:45] updating European legislation so that [00:18:48] Russian tankers cannot only be detained [00:18:50] but blocked. This is important to block [00:18:53] all these tankers and they are all [00:18:55] confiscated the way the United States [00:18:58] acts against shadow list tankers near [00:19:01] its own shores and it works really [00:19:04] without all money Putin would not have [00:19:08] money for this war. Let's make it [00:19:10] possible. And now I want to speak about [00:19:12] the cost [00:19:15] cost of war on the ground. What does one [00:19:19] month of war mean for Putin? Just in [00:19:22] December, [00:19:24] our forces eliminated 35,000 occupying [00:19:28] soldiers killed and badly wounded. In [00:19:32] January, there were fewer Russian [00:19:34] soldiers. And as a result, Russia's [00:19:36] losses were about 30 about 30,000 killed [00:19:40] and badly wounded. There is even a clear [00:19:43] price Russia pays for every kilometer of [00:19:46] occupied Ukrainian land on the DET [00:19:49] front. [00:19:51] It's one of the most intense areas and [00:19:54] everybody knows about it. The price [00:19:56] Russia pays for one kilometer now is 156 [00:20:01] soldiers. [00:20:03] Putin is not concerned about this now, [00:20:06] but there is a level at which he will [00:20:08] start to care. I'm sure every month [00:20:12] Russia mobilizes about 40,000 people, a [00:20:15] little bit more 42, 43 sometimes not all [00:20:19] of them reached the front line. So [00:20:21] overall the size of the Russian [00:20:22] contigent in Ukraine is not growing this [00:20:25] year. [00:20:27] For our army the mission is clear to [00:20:29] destroy more Russian occupiers because [00:20:32] they are occupiers and the goal is [00:20:35] specific at least 50,000 per months. [00:20:38] Even for Russia, that would be serious, [00:20:41] I'm sure. And it would would affect [00:20:44] Putin's decisions because we are [00:20:46] speaking mainly about frontline troops, [00:20:49] those leading the assaults and attacks. [00:20:54] Mr. Ishinger uh said in an interview [00:20:58] before this conference that as long as [00:21:00] Ukraine is defending Europe, the danger [00:21:03] is not so great. And if we speak plainly [00:21:07] and maybe a bit cynically, that is more [00:21:12] or less the situation today. But look at [00:21:16] the price. [00:21:19] Look at the price. Look at the pain [00:21:22] Ukraine has gone through. Look at the [00:21:25] suffering Ukraine has faced. [00:21:29] It's Ukrainians who are holding the [00:21:31] European front. Behind our people stands [00:21:35] an independent Poland and the free [00:21:38] Baltic states. There can be a soaring [00:21:41] Malddova [00:21:42] and Armania without dictatorship. [00:21:45] And even one victor can think about how [00:21:49] to grow his belly, not how to grow his [00:21:52] army to stop Russian tanks from [00:21:54] returning to the streets of Budapest. [00:21:57] [applause] [00:22:06] But none of our people choose to be such [00:22:09] heroes. Ukraine did not choose this war. [00:22:14] And it's wrong to assume that this is a [00:22:18] permanent arrangement arrangement that [00:22:22] others can stay safe behind Ukraine [00:22:24] backs forever. Ukrainians are people. [00:22:28] people, [00:22:30] not terminators. [00:22:32] Our people are dying too. That is why we [00:22:36] are doing everything to stop this war [00:22:38] and to guarantee security. [00:22:41] But the problem is this. Putin is no [00:22:44] longer interested in anything else. [00:22:47] Putin does not live like ordinary [00:22:50] people. [00:22:52] He doesn't walk the streets. You will [00:22:54] not see him in a cafe. His grandchildren [00:22:58] do not go to the normal normal [00:23:00] kindergartens in their hometown. He [00:23:03] cannot imagine life without power or [00:23:06] after power. Normal things do not [00:23:09] interested him. [00:23:12] Putin [00:23:14] consults more with Tar Peter and Empress [00:23:19] Katherine about territorial gains than [00:23:22] with any living person about real life. [00:23:27] Can you imagine Putin without war? [00:23:30] Be honest. Right now his focus is on [00:23:33] Ukraine and no one in Ukraine believes [00:23:37] he will ever let our people go. But the [00:23:41] will, but he will will not let other [00:23:45] European nations go either because he [00:23:48] cannot let go of the very idea of war. [00:23:53] He may see himself as a tar but in [00:23:56] reality he is a slave to war. And if he [00:24:00] lives another 10 years, we can [00:24:04] understand it can be war can returns or [00:24:09] expand. That is why we say there must be [00:24:12] real security guarantees for Ukraine and [00:24:17] for Europe. Strong security guarantees. [00:24:20] And we know clearly what those [00:24:23] guarantees must include. And we have [00:24:25] strong agreements ready ready to sign [00:24:28] with the United States and with Europe. [00:24:30] We think that the agreement on security [00:24:32] guarantees should come before any [00:24:34] agreement to end the war. Those [00:24:36] guarantees answer the main question, how [00:24:39] long there will be no war again. And we [00:24:42] hope President Trump hears us. We hope [00:24:46] the Congress hears us. We hope American [00:24:50] people hear us. and we are grateful for [00:24:54] all the real help. Thank you. [applause] [00:25:05] [applause] [00:25:08] We are doing everything truly everything [00:25:10] to end this war and this war can end and [00:25:13] security can be guaranteed. Before the [00:25:15] invasion began, uh, we told the world, [00:25:20] "Act now, please act preventively so the [00:25:24] invasion does not happen." And I sent [00:25:26] our commander-in-chief, at that time, it [00:25:29] was General Zillusion to speak with the [00:25:31] American side and to explain what [00:25:34] Ukraine needed to defend itself. Um, and [00:25:37] I said, tell them we need javelins, [00:25:40] tingers, and real weapons, something [00:25:42] real to stop the Russian army. So they [00:25:44] see we are not standing with bare hands. [00:25:47] It was very important. But the most [00:25:49] practical advice General Millie could [00:25:52] give Ukraine at that time was simply dig [00:25:56] trenches. [00:25:58] And that is the answer my [00:26:00] commander-in-chief brought back. Just [00:26:02] imagine hundreds of thousands of Russian [00:26:06] troops on your borders, massive military [00:26:09] equipment, and all you all you here is [00:26:14] dig trenches. [00:26:17] So if Russian troops enter Lithuania, [00:26:20] God bless. No, just like example, if or [00:26:24] another country on NATO NATO's eastern [00:26:27] flank, what will the allies hear then? [00:26:31] Will they hear that help is on the way? [00:26:34] Hope so. Or will they hear dig trenches [00:26:40] or something else? We must have the [00:26:43] ability to give a strong response to [00:26:45] that threat. And that is why we are [00:26:48] talking about a joint European defense [00:26:50] policy. That is why we need American [00:26:53] backs stop. That is why Europe needs [00:26:56] Ukraine. The Ukrainian army is the [00:26:58] strongest army in Europe. [00:27:02] Thanks to our heroes and and it's simply [00:27:06] [applause] [00:27:07] and it's simply I think it's simply not [00:27:10] smart to keep this army outside NATO. [00:27:16] [applause] [00:27:20] But but at the very but at the very [00:27:23] least uh let that be your [00:27:28] friends your decision not Putin's [00:27:30] decision please. [applause] [00:27:40] And today uh among the things that [00:27:42] unites Europe most strongly there is [00:27:45] also fear. not fear that Ukraine might [00:27:48] one day join NATO, but fear about [00:27:50] whether NATO will even exist, but we we [00:27:54] support NATO and hope that NATO will be [00:27:59] each day stronger and stronger. God [00:28:01] bless. [00:28:03] And uh right now much of our cooperation [00:28:05] with Europe and with other NATO partners [00:28:08] and cooperation inside the alliance [00:28:10] including the historic decision to move [00:28:12] toward 5% of GDP on defense is a [00:28:15] response to that fear. I think it's a [00:28:18] correction of past mistakes and it is an [00:28:22] investment in the future security and it [00:28:25] is a guarantee that NATO will not only [00:28:28] exist but will act if God forbid it's [00:28:32] ever needed. [00:28:34] Dear ladies and gentlemen, [00:28:37] more and more often now many former [00:28:40] officials from different countries say [00:28:43] that say they warned about this war and [00:28:47] that they said the invasion would [00:28:49] happen. [00:28:51] They remember what they said and uh and [00:28:55] in most cases they uh they greatly [00:28:57] improve their own story but none of them [00:29:00] can say what they actually did. [00:29:04] what they did to prevent the invasion. [00:29:08] All these stories are about one thing, [00:29:10] just one thing, shifting responsibility [00:29:13] away from themselves. And what did [00:29:16] Russia see in 2021? [00:29:19] Putin set as an equal with the president [00:29:22] of the United States, engineer, and he [00:29:26] felt he he could reshape Europe and the [00:29:31] world at least. And there were no [00:29:34] preventive sanctions against Russia. And [00:29:36] there were no serious defense packages [00:29:38] to show that we could stand up to [00:29:40] Russia. Look now our [00:29:46] great guy, our athletes. [00:29:52] and he he was disqualified at the [00:29:55] Olympics [00:29:57] Olympics simply for the intention to [00:30:00] wear a helmet showing the faces of [00:30:03] excellence killed by Russia in this war [00:30:07] and he was disqualified for the [00:30:09] intention when in 2021 we clearly saw [00:30:14] Putin's intent and asked for preventive [00:30:17] sanctions to stop the invasion we were [00:30:20] told Of course, there must be a crime [00:30:24] and only then can there be punishment. [00:30:28] And Kamla Harris I remember said this. [00:30:31] But with Russia, you cannot leave a [00:30:33] single loophole Russians can use to [00:30:36] start a war. And they say in Russia, [00:30:40] first get into the fight [00:30:43] and then we'll see what happens. [00:30:46] [clears throat] That is how they do [00:30:48] everything. That is how they start wars [00:30:51] and that is how they conduct [00:30:53] negotiations. Not to end the war but to [00:30:56] avoid ending it and just to buy time as [00:31:00] people now look back at the time before [00:31:02] the Russia Russian invasion. What will [00:31:05] what will be said about this moment four [00:31:07] years from now? And will some of today's [00:31:13] powerful leaders look for ways to avoid [00:31:16] responsibility and to justify [00:31:19] themselves? There were different options [00:31:22] before the invasion, there are options [00:31:24] now. I think so. And when when we say [00:31:28] that Russia must not be rewarded for [00:31:31] this war, we are we are saying the same [00:31:34] thing we said before the invasion. [00:31:35] Russia must not be given hope that it [00:31:39] can get away with this crime. Everyone [00:31:42] must respond already at the stage of [00:31:44] intent, the intent to kill, the [00:31:47] temptation to continue aggression. [00:31:49] Please remember the moment [00:31:52] when Russia began to take diplomacy most [00:31:55] seriously in this during these four [00:31:58] years. It was when our deep strikes [00:32:00] against Russian oil refineries began to [00:32:04] work and when everyone started talking [00:32:07] about tomahawks [00:32:10] that shows exactly how how to deal with [00:32:12] Russia and what Russia actually hears. [00:32:14] It hears strength. The stronger we are, [00:32:18] the more realistic peace becomes. A lot [00:32:21] of time now is spent on negotiations. We [00:32:24] truly we truly hope that the trilateral [00:32:28] meetings next week will be serious, [00:32:31] substantive, helpful for all of us. But [00:32:35] honestly, sometimes it feels like the [00:32:37] sites are talking about completely [00:32:40] different things. The Russians often [00:32:42] speak about some spirit of enchorage [00:32:47] and we can only guess what they really [00:32:50] mean. [00:32:51] The Americans often return to the topic [00:32:54] of concessions [00:32:57] and too often those concessions are [00:32:59] discussed in the context only of [00:33:01] Ukraine, [00:33:03] not Russia. [00:33:06] Europe is practically practically not [00:33:08] present at the table. It's a it's a big [00:33:11] mistake to my mind and it is [00:33:16] we [applause] [00:33:18] I think we Ukrainians we Ukrainians who [00:33:21] are trying to bring Europe fully into [00:33:23] the process so that Europe's interests [00:33:26] and voice are taken into account. This [00:33:29] is very important and Ukraine keeps [00:33:31] returning to one simple point. Peace can [00:33:34] only be built on clear clear security [00:33:38] guarantees. Where there is no clear [00:33:40] security system, war always returns. [00:33:43] Ukraine will do everything truly [00:33:46] everything to make these negotiations [00:33:49] successful. We have invested in this [00:33:52] process and we are in constant contact [00:33:54] with Steve Vo, with Jared Kushner and [00:33:57] with everyone President Trump appoints. [00:33:59] Today we are meeting with Secretary of [00:34:02] State Marco Rubio and Ukraine wants the [00:34:05] result of all these efforts to be to to [00:34:08] to be real security and real peace. Real [00:34:12] peace. Not what came out of Geneva in [00:34:17] 2021. [00:34:19] Not what the Russians hope for from this [00:34:23] socalled spirit of anchorage. [00:34:28] And it seems Putin hopes to repeat [00:34:30] Munich [00:34:31] and not Munich [00:34:34] 2007 when they only spoke about dividing [00:34:38] Europe, but Munich 1938 [00:34:41] when previous Putin began dividing [00:34:44] Europe. In reality, [00:34:47] it would be an illusion to believe that [00:34:49] this war can now be reliably ended by [00:34:52] dividing Ukraine just as it was an [00:34:55] illusion to believe that sacrificing [00:34:58] Czechoslovakia would save Europe from a [00:35:00] great war. And [snorts] when people ask [00:35:03] today what the price of a deal could be, [00:35:07] our answer is simple. The main thing is [00:35:10] that in four years the civilized world [00:35:12] is not forced to justify itself again to [00:35:16] shift the responsibility and not forced [00:35:20] again to look for someone else to blame. [00:35:24] [applause] [00:35:32] Dear friends, Ukraine is ready for a [00:35:34] deal that brings real peace to us, to [00:35:38] Ukraine, to Europe. And I'm confident [00:35:40] that this war can be ended and ended [00:35:42] with dignity. This is the most important [00:35:45] for us, with dignity. And we have given [00:35:48] our partners everything we believe such [00:35:50] a deal must include. And we are ready to [00:35:53] invest in common security, everything we [00:35:55] have learned while defending ourselves [00:35:57] during these years of this war. and we [00:36:00] can clearly answer most of the security [00:36:03] questions that were raised at the [00:36:05] conference yesterday and that we will be [00:36:06] raised today. And right now as we work [00:36:10] together to protect lives in Ukraine, we [00:36:13] are building a new system, a new [00:36:15] security, a new response architecture, [00:36:18] new approaches to protect lives in any [00:36:21] European country when needed. Our wall [00:36:23] of drones is your wall of drones. Our [00:36:26] expertise in drones is a part of your [00:36:29] security. Our ability to stop assaults [00:36:32] and Russian sabotage can also be part of [00:36:35] your your defense. Europe needs a real [00:36:38] common defense policy just as it already [00:36:41] has so much in common in the economy, in [00:36:44] law, and in social policy. Please pay [00:36:48] attention to Ukraine. And if exactly [00:36:51] that had happened [00:36:54] earlier, this war would not have begun. [00:36:59] Thank you. [00:37:01] [applause] [00:37:07] Thank you. [applause] [00:37:13] [applause] [00:37:14] Thank you. [00:37:20] >> [applause] [00:37:29] [applause] [00:37:29] >> Hi, good to see you. [00:37:39] [applause] [00:37:44] >> Just getting a chair. Senator, it's [00:37:47] coming right behind you. [00:37:53] >> Well, that was incredibly rousing stuff. [00:37:57] uh we have spoken at this conference for [00:38:01] the last four years [00:38:04] and I just wanted to point out before we [00:38:06] start the conversation that your Nobel [00:38:09] laurate and human rights activists has [00:38:11] pointed out that in the year of the [00:38:14] Trump administration so-called peace [00:38:16] negotiations more people have been [00:38:18] killed and injured on both sides than in [00:38:21] any other previous year and certainly [00:38:23] more civilians particularly obviously in [00:38:26] Ukraine. [00:38:27] So I guess I want to ask you, Mr. [00:38:29] President, um, and of course you will be [00:38:31] speaking in your brilliant English, [00:38:32] right? As ever. Yes. Yes. Yes. English [00:38:35] as always. Um, [00:38:38] >> can I just ask you what do you need [00:38:40] right now? I'm really conscious of the [00:38:43] time and owning time uh issue that [00:38:46] you've talked about, but if you were to [00:38:48] put out a wish list or a shopping list [00:38:50] right now, is it mostly anti- [00:38:53] anti-aircraft and anti- you know [00:38:56] missiles to protect your skies? What do [00:38:58] you need right now? [00:39:00] >> Thank you so much. [00:39:02] >> I I will use my brilliant [00:39:05] >> You will. Thank you. I appreciate it. [00:39:07] >> So, uh thank you very much for this [00:39:09] conversation. Uh let's look at um [00:39:12] priorities. All our challenges are first [00:39:16] energy challenge. We need uh missiles [00:39:19] for uh patriot systems. First of all for [00:39:22] patriots and so we spoke yesterday with [00:39:24] our Norway partners Americans and also [00:39:27] with Germany. So we need also missiles [00:39:29] for NASAMS and for IT systems. This is [00:39:33] crucial. This is number one what we need [00:39:35] missiles and as quick as possible. I'm [00:39:38] very thankful for uh possibility mark [00:39:41] for you and thanks you and for and on [00:39:45] >> did with five missiles take out his [00:39:47] heating plant responsible for heating [00:39:48] the homes of a quarter of a million [00:39:50] people that plant will be down at least [00:39:53] for 2 months that means that these [00:39:55] people and it was minus 25° last week in [00:39:57] Kiev uh during night and minus5 degrees [00:40:00] during day that they are living in those [00:40:02] conditions when you speak with the [00:40:04] people they are telling me hey keep on [00:40:07] supporting [00:40:08] we will not give in. It will only make [00:40:10] it them almost stronger despite the the [00:40:13] terrible difficulty they are facing. [00:40:15] Then I was the next day in Chief and [00:40:17] Chenv was occupied for four to six weeks [00:40:19] directly after February 22 and I spoke [00:40:22] with people who were kept in the [00:40:24] basement of a school uh the size of the [00:40:27] first three rows of this room. 150 [00:40:29] people there were only chairs we could [00:40:31] sit on. 10 people died in that room. [00:40:33] They were not able to bury them. This is [00:40:36] the Russians. This is the lack of [00:40:38] decency of humanity. For six weeks, [00:40:41] these people were kept there. I looked [00:40:42] in the eyes of these two people who [00:40:43] showed me around there. They told me, [00:40:45] "We are resilient. We will never give [00:40:47] in. But tell this story to other people [00:40:49] what the Russians did here." And others [00:40:51] of us have been in BHA and other places [00:40:53] around Kief. This was in Chan about 2 [00:40:55] kilome two um two hours drive from from [00:40:58] Kief. And then I met Patron. And Patron [00:41:01] is a doc and the doc is responsible and [00:41:03] he is a sort of hero of Ukraine now [00:41:05] because he sniffs when uh people are [00:41:08] taking rubble away and there is a risk [00:41:10] of new explosions coming up and he is [00:41:12] excellent at this and and I agree with [00:41:14] you the the untold story of this war is [00:41:18] the heroes from the firefighters from [00:41:20] the ambulance services from all these [00:41:22] people of course the soldiers they [00:41:24] they're amazing but sometimes you forget [00:41:26] about the police and the firefighters [00:41:27] and all the other um uh civilian people [00:41:30] who are helping to take out this rubber [00:41:32] etc. And this dog, I even looked the dog [00:41:34] in the eye and he told me, "We will [00:41:36] never give in." [00:41:36] >> What did you tell the dog that you were [00:41:38] going to give Ukraine now? [00:41:39] >> And here is the story. For Ukraine to [00:41:41] stay strong in this fight, to stay [00:41:43] strong in this fight. One, we have to [00:41:46] realize the Russians are not winning [00:41:48] this. As you said, they lost 65,000 [00:41:51] people in December and in January. Um, [00:41:54] they are not winning this. Um, they make [00:41:57] very small gains in Donetsk and other [00:42:00] places. so small that it's almost not [00:42:03] relevant. But they lose all these [00:42:05] people. If there is a dictator in Moscow [00:42:08] willing to do that, we are really [00:42:09] working with somebody who is willing to [00:42:12] do that to to get so many of his own [00:42:17] people killed in that war. We have to [00:42:19] take that seriously uh because this is [00:42:21] crazy behavior at every level. So what [00:42:24] we need to do here in this room in all [00:42:26] our positions the politicians and [00:42:28] everybody who can influence this is to [00:42:30] make sure that these people who are [00:42:32] staunch who are defending themselves who [00:42:34] will never give up that they have the [00:42:36] offensive stuff they need. So that is [00:42:38] the uh all the uh missiles etc to hit [00:42:42] whatever they need to hit in Russia and [00:42:43] of course the uh the ammunition but [00:42:45] particularly also to take out the [00:42:47] missiles coming into Ukraine because [00:42:50] this is not hitting the home the the [00:42:52] front line. This is hitting the cities, [00:42:53] the innocent civilians, the civilian [00:42:55] infrastructure only to create chaos and [00:42:58] panic so that the soldiers on the front [00:43:00] line uh are are thinking of their [00:43:02] families back in KF thinking, "Oh, maybe [00:43:04] we should go back to Kiev because my [00:43:05] family is now living in terrible [00:43:06] conditions." This is the only reason to [00:43:08] do that and we are we have that. The US [00:43:11] is still supplying massive amounts of um [00:43:14] of this stuff into Ukraine. This is the [00:43:16] Pearl program paid for by Canada and [00:43:17] European allies that that will cost this [00:43:20] year $15 billion 12 billion euros. It's [00:43:23] crucial that that money is there. And [00:43:25] then of course the Europeans and the [00:43:27] Canadians doing all the bilateral stuff [00:43:29] and please use what Sakur, the Supreme [00:43:31] All commander has drawn up together with [00:43:33] the Ukrainians, the list of stuff they [00:43:35] need. Don't give bilateral stuff outside [00:43:38] that list because it is nice. It gives [00:43:40] you uh nice pictures and and photographs [00:43:42] in the newspapers. But we know exactly [00:43:44] what they need. We have that thanks to [00:43:46] Yens. This whole structure was set up [00:43:48] under his secretary general ship uh VBA [00:43:51] the command there. Uh and and it is [00:43:53] working excellently. So please use that [00:43:54] list the comprehensive Ukraine [00:43:56] requirement list and then Pearl which is [00:43:59] all the stuff the US is is supplying. We [00:44:01] need to do this. Keep them strong in the [00:44:03] fight. They will do it but they need our [00:44:06] support. And the second part of that, [00:44:08] [applause] [00:44:09] the other side of that coin is putting [00:44:11] enough pain on Putin as you have said [00:44:13] and as others have said to actually get [00:44:15] serious about a serious negotiation. [00:44:17] >> And that's exactly what Rubio said [00:44:19] today. It is testing him. Is he serious [00:44:21] Putin about all of this and he is again [00:44:23] sending this historian next week to uh [00:44:25] to the talks in Geneva. So he will again [00:44:27] lecture the Ukrainians about how to rush [00:44:29] from Sweden or whatever. in his speech [00:44:31] uh in his in his in his speech he [00:44:33] mentioned Ukraine only in passing and [00:44:35] the words were elusive peace. So we'll [00:44:37] get to that in a minute. Roberto Medsola [00:44:39] for Europe you saw a call to arms today [00:44:41] from uh Commission President Osio [00:44:43] Vandereline from Prime Minister Stalmer [00:44:45] really rebuilding uh Europe's [00:44:48] military-industrial complex. What though [00:44:51] can you do now? How come you haven't [00:44:53] managed to get all those uh you know the [00:44:56] money of Russia that you could actually [00:44:58] give to Ukraine and most of the [00:45:00] Europeans agree with it? Why can't you [00:45:02] just get it done and put pressure on [00:45:05] Putin as President Zilinski says and as [00:45:07] it's patently clear maybe something it [00:45:10] can be something important for [00:45:13] compromises to renovation of Ukraine and [00:45:16] etc. But we are ready they said we will [00:45:19] will you ready to to do some steps? The [00:45:21] question is what uh what Russians are [00:45:24] ready to do. We don't hear compromises [00:45:26] from Russian side. We want to hear from [00:45:29] them something. And I think this is [00:45:32] important. [00:45:33] >> Before you carry on, can I just ask you [00:45:35] about two press? [00:45:36] >> Our people under pressure by the way [00:45:37] about the pressure. Our people [00:45:39] Ukrainians under pressure. [00:45:40] >> They're being killed. [00:45:43] >> Presidentidential elections and a [00:45:44] referendum on a peace deal that you're [00:45:46] prepared to announce that even [00:45:47] potentially by the end of this month. It [00:45:49] true or false? [00:45:51] something new for for me. [00:45:52] >> So you don't know [00:45:53] >> it was new for me. Yes, I think I [00:45:55] answered already on this question. But I [00:45:57] can repeat [clears throat] [00:46:00] uh first of all, of course, nobody [00:46:03] support elections during the war. It's [00:46:05] something strange. I said it about so [00:46:08] many times. Then I said if American side [00:46:11] will push this signal, I'm ready to show [00:46:15] that we are ready for this. Okay, give [00:46:17] us I'm very honest. Give us two months [00:46:19] of ceasefire, we will go to elections. [00:46:21] That's it. Give us ceasefire. Give us [00:46:25] security infrastructure. Maybe not two [00:46:28] months but but but but we need a lot of [00:46:30] days to prepare. Then give us [00:46:32] possibility our soldiers to vote. How [00:46:34] they can I mean defend our lives, our [00:46:37] country and at the same moment to vote. [00:46:39] This is something difficult even not I [00:46:43] mean this strange it's something very [00:46:45] difficult and I don't don't know who has [00:46:48] such experience we don't have it and we [00:46:51] can't compare sometimes I heard sorry [00:46:53] for sometimes I heard yes we had [00:46:57] elections in the United States during [00:46:59] Lincoln's time and etc can how we can [00:47:03] compare it we have missiles our people [00:47:06] under missiles it's not just land war, a [00:47:10] lot of missiles. We're under ballistic [00:47:12] attacks. So, give us ceasefire. [00:47:14] President Trump can do it. Push Putin, [00:47:17] make ceasefire, then our parliament will [00:47:19] change the law and we will go to [00:47:21] elections if they need them. If [00:47:23] Americans need elections in Ukraine [00:47:27] and if Russians need elections in [00:47:29] Ukraine, we are open for this. [00:47:32] uh secretary general even [00:47:34] >> but we can also give ceasefire for [00:47:37] Russians if they will do elections in [00:47:39] Russia. [00:47:41] [applause] [00:47:50] >> [applause] [00:48:00] [applause] [00:48:00] >> secretary general even the ch [00:48:02] >> this is where he is [00:48:03] >> but that's his previous and his current [00:48:06] you know strength right [00:48:08] >> communication um can I ask you even the [00:48:11] Chinese uh foreign minister as he was [00:48:13] talking and addressing today did the [00:48:15] whole Russian trope about having to talk [00:48:17] about the historical reasons and the [00:48:19] conditions and this and that for uh for [00:48:22] a ceasefire. What do you see as the [00:48:26] vital security guarantees that need to [00:48:28] be in place and so far Russia has said [00:48:32] no to even an international monitoring [00:48:33] force of Europeans. So what do you see [00:48:36] is a realistic security guarantee? Well, [00:48:39] let's first of all answering to the [00:48:41] Wangi to the Chinese uh thing conclude [00:48:44] together that there was absolutely no [00:48:47] reason whatsoever for the Russians to [00:48:49] invade Ukraine. Not in 2014 with Korea, [00:48:52] Crimea not a full-scale onslaught on [00:48:54] Ukraine starting late February 2022. So [00:48:57] this absolutely absolutely not true. [00:49:00] Then when it comes to security [00:49:02] guarantees, the first thing which is [00:49:03] crucial is for NATO that NATO came back [00:49:05] together. The last couple of days, there [00:49:08] has been a huge shift in mindset within [00:49:11] NATO where the Europeans are now taking [00:49:13] more of a leadership role in NATO where [00:49:15] the Europeans take more responsibility [00:49:17] for their own defense and this is making [00:49:19] us stronger because it anchors the [00:49:21] United States stronger in the NATO [00:49:23] alliance. It answers a request from them [00:49:25] and for Ukraine to stay strong, it is [00:49:27] important that the 32 NATO allies are [00:49:29] stronger together. So I really believe [00:49:31] NATO is stronger now than it was ever [00:49:33] since the fall of the Berlin wall. And [00:49:35] we are now ready also to help Ukraine [00:49:38] not as an alliance. We will do that [00:49:40] individual allies. And this brings me to [00:49:41] the security guarantees. We need [00:49:43] security guarantees at three levels. [00:49:45] Level one is the Ukrainian armed forces. [00:49:47] They have to be so strong and so well [00:49:49] trained and of course they are already [00:49:51] battleh hardened that they can first of [00:49:52] all of course defend themselves. Then we [00:49:54] need and this is the leadership of [00:49:56] Macron and StarMA within Europe the [00:49:58] coalition of the willing many other [00:50:00] countries participating in Europe, [00:50:02] Canada um and also by the way more and [00:50:05] more the US getting involved will come [00:50:07] to that but the coalition of the willing [00:50:09] nations in NATO but also outside NATO [00:50:11] working together to make sure that they [00:50:13] will contribute whatever is necessary to [00:50:15] make sure that Putin will never ever to [00:50:17] try again invade Ukraine after a peace [00:50:19] deal or a long-term ceasefire. So no [00:50:22] repeat of Budapest 94, no repeat of [00:50:24] Minsk 2014, 2015. And then the third [00:50:27] element is the Americans. It was a [00:50:29] crucial moment when the American [00:50:30] President Trump said in our August, I [00:50:32] want to be part of that. I want to be [00:50:34] participating. And then we articulated [00:50:37] the Ukrainians and the Americans and the [00:50:39] coalition towing what that will be. This [00:50:41] is exactly as the president said as [00:50:43] Fonimir said in January we had a meeting [00:50:45] in Paris very successful with the [00:50:47] Americans where I I would say 95 96 97% [00:50:52] of the security guarantees now done. So [00:50:55] this is crucial because that means that [00:50:56] when that peace deal is there uh we can [00:50:59] make sure collectively with the [00:51:00] Ukrainian armed forces as the first line [00:51:02] of defense that the Russians will not [00:51:03] attack again. But obviously to do that [00:51:06] you need Putin to play ball. What I am [00:51:09] seeing, what the Americans are doing [00:51:10] consistently since February under [00:51:11] President Trump's leadership, Marco [00:51:13] Rubio, Steve Witkov, Jared Kushner is [00:51:15] they are testing the Russians to see [00:51:17] whether they are serious. [00:51:18] >> Yeah, but this has been going on for a [00:51:19] year. How much testing? [00:51:21] >> We can have as much criticism as you [00:51:23] want on the present American government. [00:51:25] But I am going to defend them there. [00:51:26] >> No, it's a question. I know I know. No, [00:51:29] no, but in the question I hear some I [00:51:31] don't and I don't mind. [00:51:32] >> How long do you This has been the [00:51:34] deadliest year for Ukraine. [00:51:36] >> But here's the thing. Here's the thing. [00:51:38] If we agree that only the American [00:51:40] president was able to break the deadlock [00:51:42] with Putin, I think it was only him [00:51:43] because he is the leader of the [00:51:44] mightiest nation on earth, a quarter of [00:51:46] the royalty economy, the mightiest [00:51:48] military on earth. He did that in [00:51:50] February. He broke the deadlock and [00:51:52] never, no one expected this to end soon. [00:51:54] It is an extremely difficult situation [00:51:57] we are dealing with. And the most [00:51:58] important issue here is not Silinski or [00:52:00] the Ukrainian team. They are willing to [00:52:02] play ball. They want this to end as soon [00:52:04] as possible. No one is going to prolong [00:52:06] this. So this you it is the Russians who [00:52:08] have to play ball and this is exactly [00:52:10] why the Lindsey Graham Blumenile law now [00:52:13] or whatever you call it in the US law or [00:52:15] uh [00:52:15] >> the sanctions bill [00:52:16] >> the sanctions the bill sorry the [00:52:18] sanctions bill you have now in the [00:52:19] Senate is so important what the [00:52:21] president did himself putting sanctions [00:52:22] on Ross and Luke oil what he did with [00:52:24] the secondary sanctions on India and [00:52:26] China when it comes to oil delivery [00:52:28] still oil buying from Russia this is all [00:52:30] important this is putting pressure on [00:52:32] the Russians the Europeans doing that [00:52:34] with their sanction packages one [00:52:36] problem. China is the main sanction [00:52:38] circumventtor in the world and therefore [00:52:41] the main contributor to Russia to the [00:52:43] war effort of course together with North [00:52:44] Korea and Iran and Bellarus but China is [00:52:47] playing that role. We should not be [00:52:48] naive. Um, uh, Senator Wicker, as far as [00:52:53] I gather, and you can confirm, um, that [00:52:56] Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not [00:52:59] choose to go to the special Berlin [00:53:01] format meeting of all the, uh, President [00:53:03] Zilinski, Mark Rutter, and the other [00:53:06] leaders. What do you think that signals? [00:53:09] And do you think, as Secretary General [00:53:11] Rutter says, that the United States is [00:53:14] absolutely committed to a fair and just [00:53:16] peace and is willing to do the work for [00:53:18] it? When I say the United States, I mean [00:53:20] this administration. [00:53:22] >> I I take the Secretary of State's uh [00:53:24] statement [00:53:26] on face value. I don't think it it [00:53:28] matters very much. But let me say this. [00:53:31] Uh Vladimir Putin has not yet negotiated [00:53:35] in good faith. Never once. Vladimir [00:53:38] Putin started this war. He's a war [00:53:41] criminal. And as you've pointed out, he [00:53:43] started committing more war crimes this [00:53:46] year by by attacking by attacking [00:53:49] civilians. He will begin to negotiate in [00:53:52] good faith only when he is hurting [00:53:55] enough. And that's what these oil [00:53:57] sanctions may do. That's what uh more [00:54:00] serious uh more decisive and skillful [00:54:04] weaponry may do. But he will not [00:54:07] negotiate in good faith and has not yet [00:54:10] said one word about actually ending this [00:54:13] war in in a meaningful way that will be [00:54:15] >> and we are just about to head to the [00:54:17] fifth anniversary. So it's it's it's an [00:54:19] important and serious situation. Um [00:54:22] President Medsola, you heard Secretary [00:54:25] General Rut talk about and we've read in [00:54:27] the press about certain American [00:54:30] commands in NATO being transferred to [00:54:32] Europeans. [00:54:34] Is Europe ready for that? Does Europe [00:54:35] welcome that? Uh, is that the beginning [00:54:38] of a I don't know how to call it [00:54:39] anymore, a decoupling, a d-risking, a [00:54:42] going your own way? I know you're [00:54:43] shaking your head and we'll get to you. [00:54:46] >> I don't see it like that. Um, I think [00:54:48] we're living in a time of new [00:54:50] geopolitics and everything that we're [00:54:51] used to is over in all in all respects. [00:54:55] Uh I I was particularly struck by what [00:54:58] President Zalinski said in his speech [00:54:59] where he said that the one aim of [00:55:02] President Putin is to cause division. Uh [00:55:05] there is nothing that keeps him going [00:55:08] before his people more than uh a [00:55:11] rhetoric that the US and the Europeans [00:55:14] are split that the European companies [00:55:17] countries between them are not aligned. [00:55:20] I will not fall into that trap. What I [00:55:22] will say is that the European Union has [00:55:26] perhaps better late than never after [00:55:28] years of perhaps doing less uh stood up [00:55:31] to say that we need to do more. We need [00:55:34] to spend more. We need to create more. [00:55:36] We need to help Ukraine develop more. [00:55:39] And if we manage that, then how NATO was [00:55:43] run, I leave that to your capable hands, [00:55:45] Mark. But from a European perspective, [00:55:47] we would also be able to to be ready for [00:55:51] anything. And readiness is in itself a [00:55:54] deterrence if we are going to be really [00:55:58] let's say forwardlooking and [00:55:59] self-confident. I think we also lost [00:56:01] that in the last few years that we are [00:56:04] able to have enough tools to stand up [00:56:07] and be counted then the US cannot go [00:56:10] alone just like we could not go alone [00:56:12] and this is something that we need to be [00:56:14] able to say if we want to send a message [00:56:16] for um Russia and Putin's administration [00:56:19] and what's and the cynicism with which [00:56:22] we are discussing uh elections in [00:56:26] Ukraine when did we have fair elections [00:56:30] in Russia. When are we going to be able [00:56:33] to say that if there are bombs falling [00:56:36] on cities, you cannot force those people [00:56:39] without electricity to go to vote? And [00:56:41] this is a a cynical plot that we're [00:56:44] falling into and we absolutely should [00:56:47] not allow it to. So, it is this moment [00:56:49] where we have to [applause] um I I've [00:56:51] been told three more minutes. So, I want [00:56:53] to ask you a question and then give you [00:56:55] president the last word. Just quickly um [00:56:57] after the Davos speech after Prime [00:57:00] Minister Carney talked about you know a [00:57:02] rupture and having to have a new [00:57:04] arrangement you said to your you know [00:57:07] your members if you think that we can [00:57:10] manage our own security without the [00:57:12] United States you're dreaming is that [00:57:15] your position now or do you think there [00:57:18] does need to be some kind of moving away [00:57:21] from [00:57:21] >> what I'm seeing is a total unity of [00:57:23] vision coming together in two steps. [00:57:25] Step one was the summit in Nih where we [00:57:27] agreed to spend 5% on defense, 3.5% on [00:57:30] core defense that for the first time in [00:57:32] history will equalize what the Europeans [00:57:33] are spending with what the Americans are [00:57:35] spending. What I'm hearing from the [00:57:36] Americans, everybody in America [00:57:38] understands why NATO is important not [00:57:40] only for Europe or Canada but also for [00:57:42] the safety and collective security of [00:57:44] United States itself. They are [00:57:45] completely committed to article 5. There [00:57:48] is one big expectations that the [00:57:50] Europeans would step up, spend more and [00:57:51] that happens in the H. What then [00:57:53] happened over the last couple of weeks [00:57:54] and I saw the culmination of point of [00:57:56] this with the defense ministers this [00:57:58] week with Bridge KBY the main policy guy [00:58:01] in the Pentagon speaking there the under [00:58:03] secretary of war. What I saw there is a [00:58:05] unity of vision saying Europe will [00:58:08] gradually take more responsibility for [00:58:10] its own defense. Europe will take more [00:58:11] of a leadership role within NATO but [00:58:14] completely with the US anchored in in [00:58:16] NATO having a strong um conventional and [00:58:20] of course nuclear presence in Europe [00:58:22] going forward but acknowledging [00:58:24] collectively that United States has more [00:58:25] to take care of than Europe also the [00:58:27] inner Pacific also their own hemisphere [00:58:30] and that's only logical and we need that [00:58:31] and that's why I was speaking today [00:58:33] yesterday with the defense minister of [00:58:34] Japan the foreign minister of Japan good [00:58:36] to see you the foreign minister of Japan [00:58:38] today we I was on the phone with the [00:58:40] president of Korea. This week I will [00:58:42] meet Australians and the New Zealanders [00:58:44] here because there is that strong [00:58:45] connection and cooperation between NATO [00:58:47] and Indo Pacific. It's only right for [00:58:49] the US to also pivot more there. But [00:58:51] there will be going forward a strong [00:58:52] presence here in Europe of the United [00:58:54] States both nuclear and uh conventional [00:58:57] but it's totally logic. This is one of [00:58:59] the richest richest places in the world [00:59:02] Europe. uh we have huge economies that [00:59:04] we take more care of our own defense [00:59:06] take more leadership there and there's [00:59:08] the reason why in NATO and this started [00:59:10] a couple of years ago that now a [00:59:12] discussion has been finalized where the [00:59:14] joint force commands will overtime be [00:59:16] led by Europeans and the component [00:59:18] command so aircom and marcom and lendcom [00:59:21] will be led by the Americans and the [00:59:22] supreme allot commander being an [00:59:24] American going forward so this is [00:59:26] crucial NATO absolutely today stronger [00:59:30] than ever since the fall of the Berlin [00:59:32] Last word to you, Mr. President. How do [00:59:34] you think this year is going to go? [00:59:35] Let's take the next six months. [00:59:38] >> Let's think about tomorrow. [00:59:39] >> Tomorrow [00:59:41] >> really and the day after tomorrow, how [00:59:43] it will be, [00:59:45] we will support [00:59:47] peace dialogue. Um if uh United States [00:59:52] will stay, I hope we'll stay in [00:59:54] negotiation panels and dialogues. It's [00:59:57] important for us. I hope that we will [00:59:59] involve more and we will work on it more [01:00:02] European colleagues. Then I really hope [01:00:05] that we will have support from the [01:00:07] United States from administration and [01:00:10] Congress on security guarantees. We need [01:00:13] their votings. I hope that we will have [01:00:15] security guarantees very very clear for [01:00:18] sorry but but first of all for our [01:00:21] people that our people will know what [01:00:24] will be if Russia will come again. [01:00:28] What answer will our strongest supporter [01:00:31] United States strategic partner will [01:00:33] answer? What answer will European [01:00:36] leaders will do if the aggression will [01:00:39] be again? This is very important. Then [01:00:42] we really want to work on EU membership [01:00:45] and I know that some European leaders [01:00:48] are not happy with my rhetoric and [01:00:50] messages. I'm sorry but I will continue [01:00:54] because we need very we are very [01:00:58] thankful it's true we are very thankful [01:01:00] but we can't save only by says thank you [01:01:04] can't save our lives that's why I'm very [01:01:07] honest for us it's very important to [01:01:09] have a date date for our membership [01:01:13] otherwise after this war will end I'm [01:01:16] sure that it will end Putin will do [01:01:18] everything doesn't matter what he will [01:01:20] negotiate He will do everything by his [01:01:23] hands or by hands of some [01:01:26] not big countries but very ambitious [01:01:30] leaders. [01:01:31] He will do everything by using them to [01:01:34] block our EU membership. That's why I [01:01:37] want very much to have signing by [01:01:39] Americans, Russians, Europeans and [01:01:42] Ukrainians in this 20 points plan where [01:01:45] the date is written. I think this is [01:01:47] very important for our nation and of [01:01:50] course we will all this months first of [01:01:52] all we will strengthen our uh soldiers [01:01:56] and uh we'll do our best for our [01:01:59] civilians. What can I say the the unity [01:02:02] is very important and and the United [01:02:05] States is important. They have only to [01:02:08] make Ukraine [01:02:10] stronger than Russia. [01:02:12] >> Okay. [01:02:13] >> Thank you. [01:02:13] >> On that note, [applause] Mr. President, [01:02:16] Secretary General, President of the [01:02:17] Parliament, Senator, thank you so much. [01:02:20] [applause] [01:02:23] >> Ladies and gentlemen, we'll continue [01:02:25] momentarily in the main conference hall. [01:02:27] Please remain seated. Ladies and [01:02:29] gentlemen, please remain seated in the [01:02:31] main conference hall. [01:02:48] Ladies and gentlemen in the main [01:02:50] conference hall, please take your seats [01:02:52] in the main conference hall. Ladies and [01:02:54] gentlemen, please take your seats.