European Ambivalence Toward the Russian Threat

Ukraine is not a burden for Europe — it’s a chance for Europe. Today, European security is unthinkable without Ukraine. Ukraine has the strongest army in Europe, a dynamic defense industry, and citizens with vast military experience. The real question is: to what extent does Europe itself understand the threat posed by the new authoritarianisms? And to what extent does it realise that helping Ukraine is, in fact, a matter of its own survival? *** Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, a Ukrainian philosopher, editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine. Guest: Yevhen Hlibovytskyi, a prominent Ukrainian intellectual and director of the Frontier Institute. Frontier Institute: https://frontier.pro-mova.com/en *** Explaining Ukraine is produced by UkraineWorld, an English-language media outlet about Ukraine run by Internews Ukraine. Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine UkraineWorld: https://ukraineworld.org/en *** SUPPORT: You can support our work on https://www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld Your help is crucial, as we rely heavily on crowdfunding. You can also contribute to our volunteer missions to frontline areas in Ukraine, where we deliver aid to both soldiers and civilians. Donations are welcome via PayPal at: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com. *** CONTENTS: 00:00 Yevhen Hlibovytskyi, Ukrainian intellectual and director of the Frontier Institute. 02:04 Has the dynamic shifted, making Ukraine a supplier of security to Europe rather than just a recipient? 07:49 Is the acute 'need' driven by war a stronger motivator for entrepreneurship and creativity than peacetime opportunity? 10:25 Why is the historical understanding of the Russian threat still proving ambivalent in some Central and Southern European countries? 15:01 Should the European Union transform into a geopolitical union by adding a military security component to its integration? 22:36 Is the Ukrainian governance model inherently more resilient because of civil society? 27:59 Why is Europe failing to find the necessary political will to take decisive action on Russian assets, sanctions, and information warfare? 30:31 Is the perception of Ukraine as a 'burden' outdated? 35:03 What about NATO? 43:48 What long-term economic and demographic impacts will follow if the current threat isn't addressed?