“We are buying time for Europe because Ukraine is fighting not only for its own survival but also for European security,” stated Lesia Ogryzko, Director of the Sahaidachnyi Security Center, during her address at the forum. These words served as a crucial reminder to European diplomats and experts that Ukraine’s victory in its war with russia is the key to the security of the entire continent.
The Vienna European Forum took place on 7-8 November 2024, organised by the Austrian Institute for European and Security Policy (AIES) and the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies. This event gathered leading experts from across Europe and served as a platform for discussing pressing security issues, including the situation in Ukraine.
The second day of the forum focused on security matters, with the panel featuring Ogryzko addressing the theme “War, Peace, and Stability in Eastern Europe.”
“We need to ask the right questions,” stated Lesia Ogryzko. She emphasised that it’s not just about how Ukraine views the situation, but about what a shared plan for the future looks like. She pointed out the lack of a clear strategy from the West, noting that after three years of full-scale war in Europe, there is still no agreed-upon plan.
“The problem is also that the West still does not perceive this war as ‘our war,’” concluded the Director of the Sahaidachnyi Security Center, urging the West to take more decisive action in order to ensure long-term stability and Ukraine’s victory.