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The writer has simply returned from a visit to Ukraine with a delegation from the European Parliament and the French Senate. On this paper, he delivers a transferring and exact testimony. Regardless of the combating, Ukraine is making ready for its European future. Not solely it deserves it, however it will be an incredible asset for Europe itself.
There are some travels to the long run, journeys taking us to lands, the place immediately, we will discover some inspiration not belonging to the nation we live in. Travels, per say, to nations presumably forging the matrix to information our ideas and tasks for the current occasions of our societies. It was the case of my transient keep in Ukraine from April 20 to 22, 2022. What I’ve skilled there’s a form of lab for democracy inspiring us deeply, additional greater than solidarity to the Ukrainian folks, going far past listening to the tales of massacres: defying purpose, breaking out our senses to the widespread understanding.
The paradox is just obvious: Ukraine is on the similar time a rustic that lives essentially the most dramatic current that may be — the prison battle of the Russian regime aiming on the bodily destruction of the nation and the Ukrainian folks — and a nation completely turned in the direction of the long run. Speaking with the mayor of Lviv, Andriy Sadovyi, the mayor of Kyiv, Vitaliy Klychko and the mayor of the martyred metropolis of Bucha, Anatoly Fedoruk, we found people who find themselves not solely extremely brave and strong-minded, but additionally absolutely targeted on the long run. Don’t count on complaints and recriminations from them, even when all of them rightly count on even stronger assist from Western nations within the protection of Ukraine and dedication to push Russian forces out of Ukraine. As a substitute, you’ll hear from them about a number of tasks for a free and European Ukraine.
Throughout a transferring ceremony in Bucha, the place a whole bunch of Ukrainians have been intentionally murdered by Russian forces, the members of the delegation of European and French parliamentarians and myself, along with youngsters from the city, planted bushes that have been already starting to bud. The image was clear: tomorrow, to cite the Music of the Moor Troopers (Moorsoldatenlied), spring will bloom once more — or to make use of the English phrases, winter is not going to final eternally. In his speech, the mayor of Bucha indicated two issues specifically: First, it’s needed to organize the relay between the generations via the transmitted reminiscence of the crimes. This bloody thread bridges the hole between the previous and the long run, as René Char wrote. It constitutes the muse of the liberation from this heavy current. This transmission of the reminiscence in the end authorizes to create a free group conscious of its duties. Then, he indicated that our fights, but additionally our tasks for the way forward for Ukraine, we owe it exactly to those youngsters. They deserve a way forward for freedom throughout the political group based on values and on guidelines that’s by excellence Europe. The battle makes the long run much more pressing. What an antinomy additionally with an aggressive regime that has exactly the “no future” for horizon.
Kyiv, April 2022. Photograph of the writer
However it will be fallacious to assume that Europe is just “anticipated” or “demanded”. The Ukrainian officers we met will not be asking for a present, even when its assist is hoped for. We’re considering specifically of what the mayor of Lviv talked about when he introduced us together with his mission for a mannequin well being care middle to “restore” the mutilated folks of the battle — so typically, tragically, the “damaged faces” of whom we have been capable of see some painful pictures. They’re already constructing Europe. Every little thing within the phrases, tasks and actions of the Ukrainians breathes the scent of Europe. It isn’t an ideology, however a set of concrete achievements that mix beliefs and duty, good administration and dedication to residents. Once you hear Ukrainians speaking about what they wish to obtain, you possibly can see what Western Europe has largely forgotten: Europe can be a sensible concept.
For many who, like me, have typically been in Ukraine for the final fifteen years, the evolution is appreciable and visual; regardless of the battle, electrical energy works in addition to the phone; trains run; water flows within the pipes; the nation is equipped with meals and numerous items; there are not any queues on the fuel stations. In Lviv, which has had to deal with the arrival of floods of refugees, they’re fed and housed. All of the testimonies and research converge on this level: the Russian disorganization, the results of which we noticed once more throughout the brand new offensive towards Ukraine, is opposed by the right Ukrainian group. The state has by no means misplaced — quite the opposite — its energy of management, group and administration; native governments, primarily municipalities whose energy has elevated since 2014 and much more for the reason that promulgation of the state of battle, are the fundamental place for the capabilities of safety, safety and logistics. States, municipalities and acknowledged — and managed — associations function hand in hand. One might additionally point out the superior capabilities of the Ukrainian providers within the discipline of countering cyber assaults and naturally the distinctive efficiency of the logistical providers that permit for the supply of reduction provides and weapons to the fight zones. As I write these strains, regardless of the announcement made a number of occasions by the Russian authorities, Mariupol has nonetheless not fallen.
In sum, the battle clearly exhibits that Ukraine was ready to face a heavy and lengthy battle, although it didn’t appear to count on it a couple of days earlier than February 24, 2022. With the battle, it has additional elevated its capabilities, which additionally draw on the extraordinary energy of nationwide unity. In a distinct context, it’s potential to make a comparability with the Syrian reduction organizations and groups of docs who, within the face of mass homicide and destruction by the Assad regime and Russia, have proven distinctive means in organizing reduction and have made appreciable progress in battle drugs. The truth is, they provided help to the Ukrainians and a real “brotherhood” was created between the heroes of those two martyred nations. As soon as the battle is over, European nations, together with their central and native governments, must look to Ukraine for classes that might present essentially the most wanted inspiration at house. Ukraine is not going to be an assisted nation — though it can definitely want a Marshall Plan to rebuild — however a driving and exemplary one.
Nicolas Tenzer (proper) with Mayor Anatoliy Fedoruk and the youngsters of Boutcha. Courtesy picture
With the mayor of Kyiv, we have now exactly inaugurated a spot, nonetheless digital, “We Europe”, a spot of mental and sensible exchanges between European nations, together with Ukraine. We should always be taught loads there, past the executive work that awaits Ukraine to take over the acquis within the coming years. In fact, we owe it to the Ukrainians, due to their struggle alone for the protection of Europe and the handfuls of hundreds they’ve misplaced in it, to grant Ukraine the standing of a candidate nation instantly. Any procrastination wouldn’t solely be undignified and shameful, however would additionally replicate a strategic blindness.
However that is exactly not the type of present one may give to a needy good friend. It is going to be an incredible asset for the European Union, each economically, politically and by way of safety. With out Ukraine, Europe shall be poorer and extra insecure. With out Ukraine, Europe would minimize its ties with the long run. It will lastly deprive itself of part of the reminiscence that ought to encourage and fertilize it.
These will not be simply phrases, however a tangible actuality once we additionally take a look at the trajectory of sure European nations in the direction of the destruction of their very own reminiscence. Ukraine will definitely permit us to raised take into consideration our personal. Whereas in many countries of the European Union, the bonds of solidarity are disintegrating or distending, Ukrainian society has proven what it means day after day. It has additionally demonstrated that this solidarity between folks isn’t in opposition to the energy of the state, however fairly helps and empowers it.
It has typically been mentioned, and rightly so, that it’s exactly this mannequin of freedom and success that Putin’s regime desires to destroy. The truth is, it presents the alternative picture of what Putin’s Russia is and what it has finished to its folks. On this, too, whatever the Kremlin’s battle towards Europe and all of us, it’s the European success story that he intends to destroy in Ukraine. The truth that Ukraine has carried out its personal revolution, of which Maidan has grow to be the image, is insufferable for him, not solely as a result of it was a political revolution, but additionally as a result of it was a revolution inside Ukrainian society that he desires to stop in Russia.
However the actuality of the battle is there — with its tens of hundreds of victims. What number of extra tomorrow if we don’t intervene decisively? Past these mass murders, the Russian state has deported greater than 1,000,000 folks to Russia, together with greater than 180,000 youngsters as Russian officers have themselves acknowledged. It might properly quantity to a criminal offense of genocide as outlined by the 1948 Conference on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
We additionally know solely too properly what Putin is searching for by contemplating a protracted battle: to stop Ukraine from growing and from returning to the trail of life, to hinder it in its European future and to deprive it of the appropriate of a free and historic existence. He hopes that sooner or later the West will get drained and abandon the Donbass and Crimea, search an settlement, think about methods of negotiating and never be critical of their promise to ensure Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. For the inhabitants of Donbass specifically, nobody can ignore what this implies: extra abstract executions, extra torture, extra abuses of any form. We are able to additionally hear the candy music of the propagandists who already imagine that we should give in to the fallacious and deceptive pretext that we should save victims. Putin’s “peace” doesn’t save, however truly kills. Ukrainians don’t wish to hear about it, nor ought to Europeans.
The one solution to save them is exactly to place an finish to the presence of Russian troops on Ukrainian soil. Within the face of Putin’s battle, this should be our battle aim, for the Ukrainians and for Europe.
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