- The question is not so much about Ukrainian-Russian relations, the question is much wider, it applies to all countries, including friendly North Macedonia. Either we are all on the side of the force of law, or authoritarian Russia wins with the right of force.
- It’s always difficult with neighbors, but civilized countries decide disputes among themselves in a civilized way. I can’t imagine any neighbor of North Macedonia in the 21st century coming to you, stealing a part of your territory and killing about 15k people. And this is only because your country wants to choose its own future, its path of development.
- The main reasons for this, not only hybrid, but also real war, is Russia’s desire to restore its empire, preserve its authoritarian regime, and to sever Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia from the Western world. Russia wants to see our countries, and first of all Ukraine, as a controlled obstacle to the dissemination of Western values, freedom and democracy in Russia that threaten Putin’s authoritarian regime. Strong, wealthy, democratic Ukraine is a serious threat to the Putin regime.
- There are serious difficulties on our way, we have to develop, reform and fight at the same time. This is a very hard one, but we are ready for it. For us freedom is not an empty word.
- We count on clear and unanimous support from friendly North Macedonia. We await joining the European Union sanctions (you cannot sit on two chairs, there are moments in life when you have to determine first for yourself, which side on the barricade you are on. Ukrainians have a very convincing negative experience with neutrality). If we go to the EU and NATO, if we are part of European values, then not only in words, but we demonstrate it in our actions too.
- The Kremlin and its supporters in other countries (some of them paid for, some of them deceived by Russian propaganda) use hybrid weapons – information attacks, cyber attacks, false Russian propaganda, and North Macedonia is no exception.
Source: Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of North Macedonia
