Thank you to the Ukrainians in the Netherlands for organizing this event and for inviting PAX to speak. And thank you to all of you for showing up in such large numbers!
Today’s manifestation shows that solidarity with Ukraine is alive and strong. After four years of Russia’s full-scale invasion, we are standing shoulder to shoulder with the Ukrainian community – and will continue to do so as long as it takes.
Yet, it feels surreal that we have to mark yet another anniversary of this horrific aggression, as violence against Ukraine continues unabated.
It is even more surreal that over the past year, pressure on Ukraine has come not only from Russia’s relentless attacks, but also in the diplomatic arena – particularly from those Ukraine has considered allies. The cynical attempts by the Trump administration to push Ukraine toward a deal that would resemble a capitulation plan rather than a real peace agreement have been deeply troubling.
There is no doubt that no one wants peace more than Ukrainians.
Because it is Ukrainians who are enduring freezing temperatures and daily hardship as Russia continues to terrorize civilians by bombing energy infrastructure. It is Ukrainians who are paying with their lives or losing their loved ones every single day of the war. It is Ukrainians who are waiting in anguish for their family members or friends to return from Russian captivity. And it is Ukrainians who have been displaced, who miss the homes they have lost – as many of you here today know all too well.
But Ukrainians want and deserve a just and sustainable peace – not surrender.
Because we know what a so-called “peace” on Russian terms looks like: occupation, oppression and terror. This is what has been happening on the territories coming under Russian control since 2014 and in those captured after the full-scale invasion, where thousands of civilians have fallen victims to arbitrary detention, torture and execution. From the unspeakable horrors of Bucha to the mass graves in Izium to the abduction and forced Russification of tens of thousands of Ukrainian children, Russia has systemically sought to erase Ukrainian identity and break any resistance to its colonial domination.
We must do everything in our power to stop this.
Ukraine must receive the political, economic and militarily support it needs – to defend itself and to be in a strong position to negotiate a sustainable peace.
But assistance for Ukraine’s self-defence is not sufficient without disrupting Russia’s ability to wage its aggression. This makes it more critical than ever to further weaken Russia’s wartime economy by strengthening sanctions and their enforcement, to increase diplomatic pressure on the Kremlin, and to advance international accountability mechanisms. And there need to be clear and tangible security guarantees for Ukraine, to prevent a continuation of this war or a renewed Russian invasion in the future.
Yet, real peace requires more than an end to the shelling.
We must support Ukraine in pursuing justice, accountability, and healing. The protection of the people of Ukraine should be central to any peace process, with meaningful participation of Ukrainian society in shaping its outcome.
Russia must be held accountable for the destruction it has caused and the war crimes it has committed. Its assets should be used to fund Ukraine’s reconstruction and provide compensations to the victims.
And we must support Ukraine in its economic recovery and its EU aspirations – for its democratic, sovereign and free future.
By standing with Ukraine today, we also stand for the rules-based order and peace and security for all of us in Europe. For our common future in which justice prevails.
Within the Netherlands, Ukraine can count on our strong and continued support. We call on leaders across Europe to uphold their commitment to Ukraine’s victory and to securing a just and lasting peace.
Let us not forget what our values are and what is at stake.
Let us continue standing firm with Ukraine.
Thank you.
