Ukraine's participation in the Strategic Forum in Bled
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Yevhen Perebyinis participated in the Strategic Forum in Bled, Slovenia, where a panel discussion was also held on the topic "Peace Without Illusions: Ukraine and the Reevaluation of Europe's Security." During the event, he outlined three key priorities that he believes are necessary to force Russia into peace. Among them:
- increasing military support for Ukraine,
- intensifying sanctions pressure on Russia,
- providing reliable security guarantees.
Two-way meetings and discussions
On the sidelines of the forum, Yevhen Perebyinis held a series of bilateral meetings with representatives of various countries and organizations. In particular, he met with Kerstin Jorna, Director-General of the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs of the European Commission. Issues regarding the economic integration of Ukraine into the EU and access of agricultural products to the single market were discussed.
During a meeting with Nikolaus Marschik, Secretary-General of the Federal Ministry of European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria, they discussed the opening of all negotiating clusters regarding Ukraine's accession to the EU, issues in the energy sector, and alternative export routes. The preparation of the founding Summit of the Carpathian Integration Initiative, scheduled for September 18 in Ukraine, was also mentioned.
With Natalia Kaouter, Director for Western Balkans, Turkey, the United Kingdom, EFTA, Arctic Policy, and the Council of Europe at the Federal Republic of Germany's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Perebyinis discussed important issues such as ensuring the functioning of the Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression, using frozen Russian assets, and the return of Ukrainian children illegally deported and displaced by Russia.
Yevhen Perebyinis emphasized: "It is necessary to abandon the illusion that Russia can simply be convinced to choose peace. Russia must be forced into peace."
He also noted that "the question is not whether Ukraine will contribute to European security, but how much stronger Europe will become with Ukraine." At the end of the event, Perebyinis gave an interview to the Trivelis Institute, in which he discussed Ukraine's contribution to ensuring European security.
Ukraine's participation in international forums such as the Strategic Forum in Bled emphasizes the importance of its position on the European stage, especially in the context of security and economic integration. The emphasis on the necessity of increasing military support and sanctions against Russia signals the continuation of Ukraine's active foreign policy, which seeks to ensure its independence and stability in the region. Meetings with international partners open new opportunities for cooperation and support, which is critically important under the current conditions.