‘Important breakthrough’ from allies as Ukraine pushes ‘darkness’: Deputy Prime Minister-National

Ukraine has made “great progress” in aid from its allies, but it needs more help from countries like Canada, according to Olga Stefanishyna, one of Ukraine’s deputy prime ministers.

When Stephanisina, Deputy Prime Minister for Europe and Euro-Atlantic Integration, first landed in Canada, the first thing she noticed, she says, was the amount of light that surrounded her.

“This is not what we have,” she said West Block’s Mercedes Stevenson“We’ve grown accustomed to living in the dark.”

About 40% of Ukraine’s critical infrastructure has been damaged by Russia, said Stefanisina, who is visiting Canada to speak with politicians about Ukraine’s current security situation and needs at the Halifax International Security Forum. Stated.

But despite what Stephanisina described as mass torture and missile attacks across the country, “the main ethos of Ukraine is that there is no way to surrender”.

“This is the only way to victory and this will lead to the permanent failure of the Russian Federation,” she said.

Despite being triumphant, she said the suffering and losses Ukraine has endured were so “grave” that there are other ways Canada and other allies can help.

To bring power back to Ukraine, Stefanishyna said, help restore the grid.

“We encourage the big companies that operate the electricity market to mobilize their efforts to provide us with everything we need,” she said.

The more generators, the better, she added.

“We need generators,” said Stefanishina, “connectivity, power and energy are the foundations for the functioning of the country, so they help ensure the stability of the functioning of the state itself.” said.

On Friday, Ukraine’s power grid chief warned of hours-long blackouts, and the state of the country’s energy and power facilities fueled fears about what might happen this winter.

Subzero temperatures are also putting additional pressure on energy networks.

Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said the city was facing a “huge shortage of electricity” and that about 1.5 million people, about half of the city’s population, were being cut off as authorities switched power from one district to another. Two million people said they were regularly shrouded in darkness. .

Helping restore damaged infrastructure is also very important moving forward, says Stefanishyna.

“It is very important to restore infrastructure in a very quick and effective manner,” she said, adding that without “strong mobilization” from allies, reconstruction would be impossible.

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Stephanisina said Ukraine was “extremely concerned” about a possible nuclear attack, making it particularly important that allies provide anti-aircraft defense systems to help “close the skies” over Ukraine. said it was.

“Whether we react strongly or not, we understand that this nuclear threat hangs over us all,” she said. “As long as Putin is in power, as long as war continues, as long as Russia, whether Ukraine or Poland, is hungry for aggression, such a threat will exist.”

For Stephanishina and other politicians across Ukraine, their ultimate goal is to “survive and save the people,” she said, calling for more help.

“So if some of your allies still think they’ve done all they can, the war is still going on, people are still dying, families are still losing loved ones, so if you didn’t do it. I assure you,” added Stefanishina.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday urged Canada to support a long-term peace plan with Russia in a recorded video address to the Halifax International Security Forum, which brings together military officials from Canada and around the world, including Stefanisina. called. this weekend.

According to Zelensky, a peace plan would require agreements on 10 different areas, including the withdrawal of Russian troops, the release of prisoners of war, and food and energy security.

The Ukrainian president continued by encouraging countries to “choose the items you can support,” adding that “Canada, who strongly supports us, also chose one of the official items of peace and all of its leadership. I believe it shows the elements.”

Stephanishina also said Ukraine wants its allies to “stick with us.”

Russia remains one of the biggest threats to NATO, the alliance Canada has joined since its creation in 1949, says Admiral Rob Bauer, the current chairman of NATO’s Armed Services Commission.

The alliance has yet to see evidence that Russia is trying to invade NATO countries, but “it’s important to be prepared for that,” he said. The West Block Mercedes Stevenson.

“We are ready and ready to defend ourselves,” he said. “The message to Russia is that we are not in the war in Ukraine. .”

Bauer believes that NATO “remains responsible for the missile detonation in Poland because it would never have happened if Russia had not started the war on February 25”. said.

In situations like this, Bauer said, it’s important for NATO to know the facts before deciding how to respond.

“This is the fog of war. When you’re driving in the fog, all you need to do is slow down a bit so you don’t accidentally hit something,” he said.

“I think that’s what the Alliance has done. Don’t jump to conclusions. Look, research, find the facts, and base your decisions on those facts.”

Bauer said it was vital for the alliance to ensure Ukraine’s survival and success, adding that Russia’s victory would not be the end of hostilities from that country.

“This is not the end of instability. It is the beginning of more instability,” he said.

“It is therefore very important that Ukraine does not lose this war with Russia.”

— Using file from Associated Press