23rd Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum – War in Ukraine

Honorable Ambassador Volodymyr Ariev contends that Russia persists as an imperial power, driven by a Soviet-era mindset, and constitutes a global security threat extending beyond Ukraine. He asserts that the conflict is not solely against Ukraine but against the democratic world, as Russia openly characterizes it as a confrontation with NATO. According to Ariev, Ukraine’s defeat would embolden an authoritarian axis encompassing Iran, North Korea, and China, potentially destabilizing global security. He emphasizes that Ukraine is engaged in a struggle for survival, and that sustained Western military assistance particularly in the form of air defense and intelligence cooperation has proven effective on the battlefield. Ariev advocates for enhanced sanctions, stricter enforcement against dual-use exports and sanction evasion (including through cryptocurrency), intensified counter-propaganda efforts, and deepened intelligence collaboration to impede Russia’s military reconstruction. He further highlights the failure of security assurances under the Budapest Memorandum and argues that the international security system necessitates reform. Finally, he urges unity among democratic nations and proposes a postwar “Marshall Plan” for Ukraine to facilitate its reconstruction and demonstrate the strength and resolve of the democratic world.