Ukraine’s ambassador to Croatia, Vasyl Kyrylych, described his country as the “gateway to Europe” and warned that Russian “dictator” Vladimir Putin would destroy Europe if Ukraine were to fall.
“If we endure, that means Europe will continue to progress, to flourish. Ukrainians are not defending only my homeland, Ukrainians are defending European values, Europe,” Kyrylych said at the event titled “Croatia for Ukraine”, organised by the Ukrainian embassy in cooperation with the City of Zagreb.
Around 100 people gathered, waving Ukrainian flags and holding banners reading “Today Ukraine, tomorrow Europe” and “Russia is a terrorist state”. Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.
Poland’s ambassador to Croatia, Paweł Czerwiński, agreed, saying it was only a matter of time before Russian imperialists attacked the rest of Europe.
He rejected claims by some that a fair deal with Russia was possible and that Russia posed no threat, calling it alarming that after four years of war some still denied the need to strengthen what he called common military capabilities.
Some said peace is not achieved with weapons, others listed how many schools, kindergartens or hospitals could be built for the price of a single tank or fighter jet, he said. We must therefore repeat the brutal truth: if we are not stronger, determined and well-armed, schools, kindergartens, hospitals and homes will simply disappear in the first hour of Russian aggression, he added.
He blamed Russia for the lack of progress towards a peace agreement, accusing it of using a cynical negotiating tactic of Soviet diplomacy: once you meet all its demands, it will present the new ones.
Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Geneva on Wednesday broke off after just two hours, after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Moscow of deliberately dragging out the process.
Davor Ivo Stier, a Croatian member of the European Parliament from the European People’s Party, spoke on behalf of Croatian Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković, warning that the term “aggression” was increasingly being avoided in favour of phrases such as “the Ukrainian-Russian war” or “the war in Ukraine”, which he called euphemisms.
“We know how dangerous it is when aggression is relativised. Some will say these are just words, but behind those words lies a political motivation, a policy that does not seek peace but to equate guilt, relativise aggression,” he said.
Stier added that “we want peace” that is lasting and does not reward the aggressor or further punish the victim, warning that there would be no peace if "profit" were made from the suffering of the Ukrainian people “through trade in Russian oil”.
He noted that the European Parliament had called for a ban on Russian oil imports for all EU member states and said countries seeking exemptions in recent days “have no reason to do so”, referring to Hungary and Slovakia.
The European Commission said on Thursday the Oil Coordination Group would meet next week to discuss supply issues for Hungary and Slovakia following the suspension of flows via the Druzhba pipeline through Ukraine.
Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman said today's rally showed the Croatian people’s support for Ukraine's people, which "recognised Croatia 35 years ago when it was defending its freedom and was itself a victim of aggression."
He said Croatia had provided comprehensive assistance to Ukraine from the outset of the invasion and would continue to stand by it.
“We must ask ourselves, as human beings, what higher goals justify killing a people and crossing its borders. Are those goals noble? They cannot be higher or noble - they are criminal,” he said. He added that the international order cannot function without mutual respect and respect for the borders, territories, and sovereignty of other states.
Veterans' Minister Tomo Medved spoke on behalf of Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, telling Ukrainians that Croatia would stand by them until peace in Ukraine was “just, secure and worthy of the sacrifice of Ukrainian defenders and the Ukrainian people”.
Medved said war does not end when weapons fall silent, but remains “in the bodies of every defender and in families learning to live together again”.
“Support for Ukraine will not stop at the military and political assistance we are providing. It will also include what comes later - systematic, long-term and dignified care for veterans, I believe the victors in Ukraine’s defence,” he said, calling veterans’ reintegration a key element of “resilience and security”.
Zagreb Mayor Tomislav Tomašević thanked Ukrainians past and present for their contribution to the city, as well as Zagreb residents who had “opened their hearts” to those fleeing the war.
“Many Ukrainians have found a home here in Zagreb. A temporary home, I hope - but even if it's not, you are welcome,” he said, noting that Zagreb and Kyiv became sister cities two years ago. “Kyiv is constantly under bombardment and struggling with shortages of electricity and heating, facing extremely difficult conditions. As Zagreb, we will do our best to help.”
He wished Ukrainians a swift victory and peace, and expressed hope Ukraine would soon become a “strong and independent” EU member.