Victor Pinchuk Foundation and YES held A Conversation with Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal during the YES Special Gathering in Kyiv

On 24 February 2025, the Victor Pinchuk Foundation and Yalta European Strategy (YES) held A Conversation with Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal on "Economic Survival, Economic Potential: Support Ukraine and Prosper?" on the occasion of the YES Special Gathering  in Kyiv “Three Years — Time to Win”. The YES Special Gathering is dedicated to the third anniversary of Russia’s brutal and unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Politicians and experts discussed strategies for securing Ukraine in a changing world.

Aleksander Kwaśniewski, President of the Republic of Poland (1995-2005); Chairman, YES Board, moderated the conversation.

Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal is convinced that Ukraine is a shield of European security and the backbone of the joint European armed forces. "Today, Ukraine is a shield of European security. And our army can form the backbone of the joint European armed forces. And Ukrainian soldiers, who have gained invaluable combat experience, can actually offer an effective alternative to the 65,000-strong US troops deployed in Germany, Italy and Spain," the Prime Minister of Ukraine said.

Denys Shmyhal called on European partners to get rid of the illusion that this is exclusively a Russian war against Ukraine.

"The European Union is also at war now. This is a different war. We should not have the illusion that the war is only in Ukraine. We are defending the European borders on the ground, but Russian aggression is spreading across European countries and, in fact, not only European countries. It is undoubtedly a hybrid conflict, carefully planned, orchestrated and implemented by the Kremlin over the past decade. Russia is funding extremist movements across Europe, which aim not only to glorify Russia, but also to drive wedge between European societies. There is economic blackmail and cultivation of dependence primarily on Russian energy carriers. All of this is aimed at dividing Europe and hindering unity," emphasized Denys Shmyhal.

According to the Prime Minister, Ukraine's defeat will lead to a new continental war in Europe.

"Ukraine's defeat will trigger a dangerous ripple effect. The appeasement of the Kremlin's imperial intentions towards Europe will lead to the spread of Russian aggression to the West, in particular to the Baltic states. And it will lead to a new continental war. If Putin succeeds, Western democracies are in danger. Ukraine is now the last barrier and line between the democratic west and chaos. That is why Ukraine's victory is in the strategic interests of our allies in the West," underlined Denys Shmyhal.

He is convinced that rebuilding Ukraine will be an impetus for the economic prosperity in Europe.

"Recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine can become a powerful factor in the development of the entire Europe. We realize that there is a crisis in the international order, the world has changed. We live in a completely new world, in a new environment. The first to adapt to the environment will survive. We have to adapt to the new reality. We need to win and restore, or possibly build, a new security order in Europe," concluded Denys Shmyhal.

Photos are available here

Video is available here