Vsevolod Chentsov is Ukraine's Ambassador to the EU. As Donald Trump is inaugurated for his second US presidential term, the Ambassador sits down with The Brussels Times to discuss the prospect of peace, the role of the EU and the need to stand with Ukraine.
You are the Ukrainian Ambassador to the EU, but you are also a Ukrainian citizen. As we approach another anniversary of the war and as Trump enters the US office, how do you feel about the situation in Ukraine?
Ukraine is fighting a war against a much bigger, aggressive nuclear power. It is probably quite unique that we have managed to sustain pressure for three years. And not only have we survived as a nation but we have continued to develop as well. We probably have the strongest army on the continent now, we have managed to resume our agricultural exports, state institutions are functional and people go to work every day. This is quite unique compared to other wars and conflicts around the world.
Trump entering office is a very important factor. This war is not an isolated episode considering North Korean, Iranian and Chinese engagement. So the US and EU positions are very important, it is a crucial moment. But as I said, Ukraine has survived and is alive and fighting.
Credit: The Brussels Times
With Trump's return to power, a peace deal is now being floated. What would an acceptable settlement look like for Ukraine?
I don’t want to speculate about President Trump’s approach. But from the Ukrainian perspective any deal should be a fair deal. The issues of territorial integrity, justice, compensation and security guarantees are very important. We need to ensure that this Russian aggression will never be repeated.
It’s not about just 'fixing things'; it needs to be credible. Will it lead to real peace? Will it not just freeze the situation but lead to stabilisation? I hope the new American administration gets this right.
Do you trust Trump to broker a fair deal?
We hear that the new administration seriously wants to deliver on this issue. So there is a great opportunity to succeed, and it is in Ukraine's interest to stop this war, but it will really depend on the conditions.
Soldiers in the street, during a Belgian Government visit to Borodianka in the Kyiv Oblast (province), on the second day of a visit to Ukraine, on Sunday 27 November 2022. Credit: Belga
What does EU membership mean to Ukraine and do you believe it is achievable?
If you had asked me this question three years ago, I would have responded, 'Yes, I believe' or, 'No, I don’t believe'. But now it is not a question of faith: it is reality. Our accession talks are on the right path, with quite concrete benchmarks underpinning the process.
Yes, it is part of a complex game involving other candidate states, but both sides [Ukraine and the European Commission, ed.] are working hard to ensure there is a credible and responsible approach to what has been agreed and to what should be implemented.
On the Ukrainian side, it is very difficult for our ministerial colleagues. It is not just a bureaucratic exercise; it is a process of reform for the whole society. And it is another unique situation. I would not wish the challenge of European reforms at the same time as fighting Russia on any nation, but we move forward.
There is a lot of talk of putting 'boots on the ground' in Ukraine. What should the EU's role in Ukraine be in the event of peace? Is some kind of peacekeeping role a possibility?
Anything that contributes to a stable and just peace will be helpful. Peacekeeping would be just one element. As such, the EU's role will be – and already is – very important. It is in the EU's interest for Ukraine, a candidate country, to be stable and secure with the ability to defend itself and to eventually contribute to European security.
This is different to the EU's equidistance to hybrid Russian aggression in 2014. Much more is at stake for the EU now. Democracy is about defending values, and Ukraine is at the forefront of this fight against Russia. Russia is fighting against these values in a different way here in Brussels: propaganda, disinformation … I think there is an understanding that we are all on the same side here. And it is much bigger than Russia’s territorial claims in Ukraine.
What do you mean by that?
I mean that Russia's current leadership is not interested in a strong, stable neighbourhood. It is doing whatever it can to drive a wedge between EU unity. And for Ukraine, it is important that the EU is strong and united.
EU accession is one thing, NATO is another – Ukraine is interested in both. Can one happen without the other?
Definitely, legally speaking. But Ukraine would like to join both. NATO membership would provide very clear security guarantees. What alternative is there?
Russia has been very clear about the fact it does not want NATO presence in Ukraine and Russia is not going to stop being Ukraine's neighbour. Is this pursuit of NATO membership feasible given this reality?
The argument that NATO is getting too close to Russia if Ukraine becomes a member doesn't fly. Just look at Finnish and Swedish membership. It is not about Russia feeling insecure. Russia contests Ukrainian NATO membership because it wants to make sure it can attack Ukraine, and NATO membership would be a real obstacle. I doubt that any nations really threaten Russian security.
It's an unpleasant term but 'Ukraine fatigue' is setting in across Europe. What do you want Europeans and Belgians to understand about the war?
I want them to know that there are people just a few thousand kilometres away fighting for them. Making sure that Russia and other aggressive regimes do not dare attack European countries. And as we discussed, it's not just overt military aggression, it's much more sophisticated than that. Russia does not tolerate the functioning of democracy, and political systems here in Europe are under constant attack. This is something people need to remember. Ukrainian resistance concerns them too.
