War has been raging in the east of the country for eight years. Shots are fired daily in the area around the ‘people’s republics’ of Donetsk and Luhansk, which are under the control of pro-Russian separatists. 14,000 were killed on the Ukrainian side during that period. The country has changed during that period, Stefanishyna says.
“People are willing to defend their country and their families. Their right to be independent and free. Many people still remember the Soviet regime. What it is like to live under occupation, what tyranny feels like. Then our brothers, fathers, grandfathers died and uncles in prisons. We never want to experience that again. Ukrainians are willing to fight for that.”
Military support
Ukraine has matured, she sees. “The idea that we should have to choose between the West and Russia has come to an end. That thought has divided us since our independence. Elections always seemed to be about that. But not anymore. People are now choosing Ukraine, for a prosperous and democratic country. That feeling can no longer be undermined by anyone or anything.”
According to Stefanishyna, the deterrence of Russia by the Americans and NATO works. Prime Minister Rutte and Minister Hoekstra of Foreign Affairs will visit Ukraine next week. She has a clear message for them. “We have asked for military support. We know that the Dutch government is now thinking about this. But I hope that we can come to concrete agreements next week.”
Oleksiy Ryabchyn, who fled to Kiev from eastern Ukraine, says the Ukrainians have nothing left to lose:
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