L'Ucraina appartiene all'Occidente
Ed è bene che l'Unione Europea e la Nato lo riconoscano definitivamente
Foreign Affairs ha pubblicato sul suo sito un intervento di DMYTRO KULEBA, ministro degli Esteri dell’Ucraina, sulla collocazione del suo Paese nel quadro della geopolitica dell’Occidente.
All’indomani del crollo dell’Unione Sovietica nel 1991, i Paesi dell’ampio territorio che va dall’Europa Centrale all’Asia Centrale e che riacquistarono via via l’indipendenza, sembravano avere una storia comune. I realtà i loro destini cominciarono ben presto a divergere. Avere considerato quei territori semplicemente come lo “spazio ex sovietico” è stato un grande equivoco della politica e dell’opinione pubblica internazionale che ha incoraggiato le mire espansionistiche di Putin.
Over the past two decades, Putin has attempted to restore Moscow’s control across the region, violating internationally recognized borders in the process. But the Kremlin has not been able to turn back the clock. By trying to bend the arc of history to his will, Putin has only strengthened the forces he aims to subdue. This dynamic became apparent after Russia’s 2008 invasion of Georgia, and even more so after its 2014 attack on Ukraine
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence. Millions of young Ukrainians have not lived a single day in the Soviet Union, and many of them now have children of their own. The idea of a “common Soviet past,” already fading among older generations, means little to them. These young people have lived through two revolutions—first the 2004 Orange Revolution and then the 2014 Revolution of Dignity—and an ongoing war with Russia. For them, Ukraine has never gained independence; it has always been independent.
La Russia è ancora una grande potenza regionale. Essa ha tuttavia da tempo perso il monopolio dell’influenza. La prossimità geografica con la Russia non potrà più nel futuro limitare le strategie geopolitiche di Washington o Brussels in quell’area.
Ukraine’s membership in NATO and the EU will not just reinforce progress in Ukraine; it will also help unify the West once more.
As a player in central and eastern Europe and in the Black Sea, Ukraine has much to offer as part of NATO on matters of regional security. The country’s capable armed forces have invaluable combat experience from fighting Russian troops since the 2014 invasion. No current NATO member possesses such experience or the knowledge that comes with it. And when it comes to cybersecurity and fighting disinformation, few countries rival Ukraine’s ability to both recognize and counter Russian tactics.
Ukraine also has a vital role to play in ensuring Europe’s energy independence