Speech by Serhiy Kuzan, Head of the USCC, at a panel meeting in Romania. Photo by Hanna Hopko.
On 9 November, the team of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center took part in a panel meeting “Ukrainian Language Day in Romania – an opportunity to reflect on challenges in the region” on the topic of Ukraine’s geopolitical challenges.
The conference, organized by the Union of Ukrainians in Romania, united 33 speakers from Ukraine, Romania, Moldova and Slovakia. Participants discussed the continuation of multidimensional support for Ukraine and the fight against Russian influence, sanctions policy against Russia, ways to counter Russian disinformation, and the impact of these phenomena on socio-political processes in Europe.
In particular, the panel “Democracy versus Autocracy: the Importance of Continuing Multidimensional Support for Ukraine” featured speakers from the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Centre:
Serhii Kuzan – Head of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Centre, military expert and analyst;
Solomiya Khoma – International cooperation manager of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Centre and representative of the European Congress of Ukrainians in Kyiv.
Commenting on Romania’s support for Ukraine and the country’s needs during the war, the Centre’s experts called on politicians and public figures to identify and combat Russian influence in all spheres in order to weaken Russia as much as possible and preserve unity between the countries.
Observing the western unity in helping and supporting Ukraine and feeling its own weakening, Russia repeatedly resorts to manipulations. A striking example is Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s port infrastructure and the “crash” of Russian drones and missiles in Romania and Poland. It is doubtful that such incidents do not test the resilience of our partners.
Serhiy Kuzan – Head of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Centre, military expert and analyst
.
“Russian influence is intensifying, and the most difficult tests are ahead. All the provocations arranged by Russia today under the guise of “shelling”, rallies and riots are aimed at destabilizing the internal political situation in European countries, spreading disinformation and increasing distrust in state institutions, promoting narratives about the need to return relations with Russia to pre-war levels. Europe is now Ukraine’s rear, and our common victory depends on its stability and security, so we emphasize the necessity to continue the fight against Russian influence and maintain unity in this matter,” comments Serhii Kuzan, Head of the USCC.
The sanctions also have a critical impact on Ukraine’s defense capabilities, which, at the cost of the lives of Ukrainian defenders, is deterring Russian aggression and allowing the world to live in peace. At the same time, there are still companies in Europe that continue to cooperate with Russia, and politicians in parliaments and governments are still influenced by so-called “foreign observers” who have illegally visited the occupied territories of Ukraine and have become complicit in legitimizing the Russian occupation.
Solomiya Khoma – International cooperation manager of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Centre and representative of the European Congress of Ukrainians in Kyiv.
.
“A special place in Russia’s hybrid war is occupied by foreign ‘observers’ – citizens of Europe and other parts of the world who, at the invitation of Russia, go to act as so-called observers during illegal elections and referendums in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. In this way, Russia managed to legitimize the occupation of Crimea in 2014 and then, in 2022, of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. All the “observers” are accomplices in the illegal military aggression, and in September 2023, there was a Romanian citizen among the so-called observers,” adds Solomiya Khoma, International Cooperation Manager at USCC.
We express our gratitude for organizing the event to the President of the Union of Ukrainians of Romania Mykola-Myroslav Petretskyi, as well as to the Ukrainian World Congress, the European Congress of Ukrainians and the Embassy of Ukraine in Romania.