РНБОУ National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine

Oleksandr Turchynov: Only a strong Ukraine will be reckoned with in Europe and worldwide

Ukraine's priority should become the creation of powerful deterrent weapons, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov stated in his speech at the IX National Expert Forum in Kyiv.

"Unfortunately, the arms race, the strengthening of nuclear capabilities, and the willingness to resolve any issues by force have become the paradigm of the modern world", - Mr. Turchynov emphasized. According to him, Russia demonstrates to the whole world its ability to modernize and build up strategic nuclear forces.

Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine recalled that Ukraine "gave up its nuclear capability by signing the Budapest memorandum and we received guarantees of our security, not worth the paper it was written on".

"As long as Ukraine has not become a NATO member, which is not a close prospect, we must understand that in case of large-scale aggression, as in 2014, we will have to rely solely on our strengths. What can stop an aggressive nuclear country from a large-scale invasion? Only powerful modern deterrent weapons, capable of striking the enemy at any distance. In my conviction, our country should resolve this issue as a priority. And no one in the world has any moral or legal right to disagree with this position", - he stated.

At the same time, Mr. Turchynov emphasized the importance of ensuring sustainable economic growth, since "without a powerful economy, our defense capability has no prospects for development".

"A small Soviet army is not able to withstand a big Soviet army - we must have modern Armed Forces. The combat capability of our army is no longer inferior to many European armies, but we cannot stop at this point, we must ensure the transformation of the security and defense sector by NATO standards, which should by its structure and the main features correspond to contemporary challenges", - Oleksandr Turchynov noted.

In this context, he expressed his hope that the next plenary week the Parliament will adopt the law "On National Security of Ukraine" as a whole, which provides for a transition to the Alliance-like model of security and defense and strong civilian control.

"Nobody wants to have serious relations with a week country. The week ones are disrespected in this cruel word, they are instructed, humiliated, and used. Only a strong Ukraine will be reckoned with in Europe and worldwide. Only a strong Ukraine will force to respect itself and reckon with its national interests, and we should build such a country", - Secretary of the NSDC summarized.