Mikhail Komadovsky: Andrey Borisovich, we met on the sidelines of the G7 summit, and briefly summarize what the Ukrainian delegation reported in Kiev. The big topic of the summit is the F-15 and F-16 aircraft. And President Biden, we understand, made it clear at the summit that the United States will provide Ukraine with everything it needs for a counteroffensive, but we understand that the F-15s and F-16s will not are not necessary. At the same time, in response to my question, President Zelenskyy repeatedly underlined the word “accelerate” when referring to deliveries of F-15s and F-16s. In fact, how do we balance these statements and when will we see Western fighters in Ukraine?
Andrii Yermak: First of all, it was a very important summit for Ukraine, because President Zelenskyy was personally present. And there were two very important sessions and many bilateral meetings, including a meeting with President Biden. And I think very important, if not historic, decisions were made. First, we heard a very important common signal from our G7 partners to continue to support Ukraine, to provide everything we need for a successful counter-offensive and for our victory.
Secondly, it was a session of G7 leaders and leaders of the Global South, the first very important conversation that ended with a statement by the Prime Minister of Japan, which laid down very important things on which all the participants in this conversation agreed: respect for the territorial integrity of Ukraine, sovereignty, our independence. No one argued that Ukraine is waging an absolutely just war, which should end in a just peace.
And this is very important for common international security. And we can say that this is the very powerful first step of such a common dialogue, not only of the G7 partners, but already of certain leaders of the Global South. As for your question regarding planes. I can only confirm the words of our president, who, at first, thanked, because it was an official declaration of the president of the United States, that the United States joins the coalition of the planes. In addition, we have heard statements from partners such as the Netherlands, Denmark, France, Poland, who have declared their readiness to begin training our pilots immediately. This is the very important first step that opens up the possibility of further aircraft deliveries to Ukraine. We believe and see that this training will begin very soon. I would say it’s days. And we hope that aircraft deliveries from countries that have already declared readiness will also begin very soon. We strongly believe it will take months, and not very long. And, of course, we expect the United States to do the same. Therefore, today, it is no longer a discussion, it is a problem solved. The president spoke openly about the timing, and it was also discussed with the partners at the meeting in Hiroshima, that we are certainly interested and will do everything in our power to make it happen as soon as possible. Planes for Ukraine are, of course, the protection of our sky, this is respect for the indispensable advantage of the Ukrainian in the sky, perhaps this is the only place where we are not yet so strong, but it’s very important to us.
And, of course, the political declaration itself, the decision itself is a very big motivation for our soldiers, for our heroes who are preparing for a counter-offensive.
Mikhail Komadovsky: You started talking about a coalition of aircraft, a coalition of fighters. Can you explain what it means to be in this coalition and who did you hear “I’m in” from? Because not all NATO member countries, for example, have the F-15 and F-16 fighters that we are talking about. What does it mean to be part of this coalition?
Andrii Yermak: Being part of this coalition is the desire to start by training pilots on these strategic aircraft available to the country that joins it. We have already heard official statements from France, Poland, Denmark, Great Britain and a few other countries. And I think this coalition will grow. This is very important for us, because it is another strong signal, as was the case with the tank coalition. She was also born not easy, but she works, and we already have results. The tanks of our partners are already in Ukraine.
And they are already doing their job, helping our soldiers to liberate our territory. The same, I’m sure, will happen with airplanes. I would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to all of our partners as we speak today, but through you I would like to say thank you to the American people, to the American president, to both parties in Congress, to the Congress of United States, President Biden’s entire team, because this is indeed a very important decision. And I can share a personal one with you: During President Biden’s visit to Kiev, I overheard him speaking to the president, and I was present at that conversation when he said, “I promise I will my best to get this decision done”. And he kept his word, and thank you very much for that. And I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my colleague and I can say my friend Jake Sullivan, who also did a lot to make this decision happen.
Mikhail Komadovsky: As far as we know, correct me if I’m wrong, President Zelenskyy spoke with President Biden in Hiroshima about security guarantees. In fact, Ukraine has requested certain security guarantees, including from the United States of America. What do those security guarantees look like you ask? Is it the Budapest Memorandum 2.0, is it some kind of formula, an Israeli format or a Kiev security treaty? What format are you talking about with Washington?
Andrii Yermak: You know, it is very important to start with the fact that today, and it is a great happiness, these are the great achievements of our great Ukrainian people and the great peoples who support us. Today we do not ask, we speak today with friends and partners, they listen to us, they help us, and we work together for our victory and work to create a new system of security in Europe and in the world. It is very important. Regarding security guarantees. You know that President Zelenskyy started talking about this several months ago, that we need security guarantees on our way to joining NATO. Because the main guarantee is NATO membership. NATO is the most powerful alliance in the world today. Everyone recognizes it. And I’m sure it will.
When we started talking with partners, we didn’t just talk, we proposed. And our proposal was set out in a specific document that we drew up on behalf of President Zelenskyy. We have created a group with Mr. Rasmussen. This is how the document called “Kiev Security Compact” appeared. This document takes into account the whole situation, the possible guarantees that we can obtain, and explains why the guarantees are what they are. We are not talking about Article 5 in any way until we become members of NATO. In other words, they are absolutely real guarantees.
When President Biden was in Kiev, meeting with President Zelenskyy, he was absolutely clear: “I respect your desire for guarantees, I support that.” And after that, already in consultation with partners, today we take the following position. We believe that the best form is a document that would be a mix between the Kiev Security Pact and a number of agreements and agreements that the State of Israel and the United States have today. We believe and feel today that our partners have a positive attitude in this respect. Today, everyone supports that, and today, I think, we are working on it in a very constructive way. And I hope that very soon we will have the result of this work. That is to say, Ukraine sees security guarantees in its NATO membership, which can happen if the security situation allows it. But there is no alternative to this. We consider ourselves members of NATO.
Mikhail Komadovsky: The analysts I spoke with say that Ukraine’s actual invitation to NATO on paper can become an argument for ending the war, an argument for Russia to cease fire. Can this be considered as a certain catalyst for peace, if that is possible?
Andrii Yermak: Yes, I believe Ukraine’s invitation to NATO could be a key factor in ending this war. Russia, with its aggression on February 24, changed reality. But now it is a reality. Finland has already become a member of NATO, Sweden is on the right track. It should be the same for Ukraine. That is to say that today, just as Ukraine wants to be a member of NATO, I think that NATO needs Ukraine to have a new security structure in Europe and in the world. And today, it is not only our desire, it is absolutely the reality that the modern world, modern Europe, demands. Without Ukraine, there can be no real new security system in Europe. And whoever was, does not. We all saw it on February 24. Europe needs a safe world. And without Ukraine it is impossible to do this. Russia must accept it. And she’s not going anywhere. She will accept it. Because they changed reality. They attacked Ukraine.
Mikhail Komadovsky: Andrey Borisovich, and the last question I pose to all of our guests, including representatives from the White House. To briefly summarize your worldview, how will the end of the war affect world peace?
Andrey Yermak: Overall, the world will be protected. Overall, the world will become the way all the people of the world want to see it. I’m sure and certain. All reasonable people in the world. The end of the war for Ukraine is the return of our territorial integrity in the form of international borders. There will be no compromise on our part. This is an absolutely flourishing, modern, restored Ukraine, the best in the world, which will maintain absolutely friendly and partnership relations with everyone who has become on our side today. And, of course, we believe that Ukraine will be the center that will provide a new security system in Europe, will be a very important element of the new global structure that will unite Europe, the Global South and all other continents. Because today Ukraine and our struggle is a symbol. It is a symbol of the fact that, I believe, our heroic people have returned to all the peoples of the world the faith that goodwill prevails, that we must not be afraid to fight for our values, that everyone must respect international law, the international legal order and the Charter of the United Nations. No one has the right to decide the fate of other nations today. And today, we are a symbol of the world’s desire to live in peace, in security, in complete safety. And think about future generations, and don’t think about how to live today until morning and if your loved one will live, and if something that happens every night will happen again. Even tonight you saw what happened in the Dnieper. Every day people, whether they go to bed or during the day, do not know if they will live until evening, if they will live until morning, if their children will live or if their parents will live. It’s impossible. And this must stop in Ukraine and all over the world.
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