Arseniy Yatsenyuk in Lviv: A new approach in the formation of the Armed Forces should clearly meet high standards of NATO

Sunday, August 23, in the framework of the PM’s working visit to Lviv, Arseniy Yatsenyuk took part in opening ceremonies of the Walk of Fame at the Army Academy named after Hetman Petro Sahaydachnyi.

The Prime Minister stressed that now the Flag Day and Independence Day have got a quite another meaning: "We have another country, another people, another challenges. Now we must fight for the national flag. Now we have to defend independence. We have to fight, everyone on his front."

He addressed to the soldiers of the ATO: "You are as Ukrainian soldiers - people who defend with lethal force the Ukrainian state, the Ukrainian independence, the Ukrainian flag and anthem, fighting against Russian terrorists at the front".

"Everyone has his front, his front of care for those who took part in anti-terrorist operations or demobilized man, and who need direct support from the state as a social and medical rehabilitation and social guarantees stipulated by the law – including land plot allocation," he said.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk stressed that correspondent tasks was set by him to the Government and to the State Service of Ukraine on ATO Veterans and Participants in particular.

"The state must respect its heroes and its defenders in fact rather than in word," the Head of Government stressed.

Ukrainian Armed Forces over the last two decades were completely destroyed, he said: "It was a part of the Russian plan. The Ministry of Defence, the General Staff, the whole system of national security and defence was packed with Russian agents and the Ukrainian Armed Forces were deliberately destroyed. The enemy knew about the state of affairs in the Armed Forces".

However, according to the PM, over the last year and a half Ukraine "has not just restored, but actually created a new army": "The army confronts Russian military aggression. No country in the world today is not at war with a nuclear Russia."

"A year ago, many analysts and experts said that it was unlikely that Ukraine would deter the Russian invasion. You deter the invasion," - he turned to the military.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk stressed that it has been laid the foundation of a new Ukrainian army, on which the Armed Forces must be formed: "The new approach in the formation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine must clearly meet the highest standards of the Armed Forces of NATO member-states."

The Head of Government stressed on important issue of Ukraine's NATO accession: "unfortunately, not all in the world are ready to make that decision yet. The fact that in 2008 Ukraine was denied the signing of the Action Plan on membership in NATO has now become a big geopolitical drama. After Georgia and Ukraine had failed to sign the Membership Action Plan, Russia carried out military aggression in Georgia. And this is the consequences of irresponsible decisions. And then the aggressor went on to the Crimea, Donetsk and Lugansk."

"Here goes nothing if we will pacify the aggressor. In 1938, when the aggressor was trying pacified, he seized the Czech Sudetenland, and we had the WWII. Therefore, our joint plan is to defend our country. We have to fight to obtain peace. And every one of you who keeps a gun in his hand, protects this world," he said.

The Prime Minister appealed to the European partners of Ukraine: "Today we’re defending the borders of Europe. We are fighting not only for our safety, but we are fighting for the peace in the EU member-states. We are fighting against Russian military aggression for the values of the free world. And this is a joint struggle of Ukraine and the entire civilized and free world, our Western partners, who are the United States of America, Canada, the EU and other countries of the Big Seven".

On behalf of the Government of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk expressed gratitude to the men-at-arms for their heroism, “there will come a time when the Ukrainian Armed Forces will be the exemplary model Armed Forces of NATO members-states."

He addressed to military men, cadets of the Academy: "Here is a very difficult way to restore the territorial integrity of the Ukrainian state. Donetsk, Lugansk and Crimea is Ukraine. And there will come a time when the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the national flag, the Ukrainian government will return to our territories. This is our country, our land, our people are there. And we will never give up."