On 7 February, Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, visited Ukraine.

This time, in addition to undisclosed events and trips (for example, he visited two drone manufacturing plants), Borrell addressed the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's parliament), and his speech is certainly significant.

European Pravda has published this speech with minor abbreviations in the article – Ukraine's victory "whatever it takes," dialogue with opposition, and Kyiv's two battles. Speech by EU's top diplomat.

Read the main points of the EU's top diplomat's speech below.

We need a paradigm shift from supporting Ukraine for "as long as it takes" to committing ourselves to support Ukraine for "whatever it takes". "Whatever it takes" for Ukraine to achieve victory. 

We need to challenge the claims that Ukraine cannot win. I hear this message from defeatism. "Why are you continuing supporting Ukraine if Ukraine cannot win?" That is not true.

Russia has lost many wars in its history. 

And to the people who say that "Western support will not hold." They were wrong in 2022, and they remain wrong today.  

Putin has clearly said that his war is against the entire West. So, instead of eying appeasement, we should remember the lessons we have learnt since 2022, avoid repeating mistakes and double down in areas where we saw success.  

And your people fought back with incredible inventiveness.

Two years ago, Ukraine had seven factories to build military drones. Today, it has hundreds. I have visited two of them yesterday. What I saw is truly revolutionary. I saw it. How passionate young people with a lot of intelligence and creativity put their technical skills to work, transforming old factories into the birthplace of high-tech equipment.

When I see these factories working, and people working, and young engineers creating new tools, when this war will be over, Ukraine will be among the world’s leading producers of the new tools of warfare. 

So, allow me to congratulate you and your people. 

At the same time, Russia is – if I may say – "cannibalising" its own future. Putin has mobilised its entire economy, society and political system for the war effort. Talents – when they can – leave the country and the demographic decline is deepening.

But, however, we have to recognise that they have adjusted to the war and their economy is more resilient than expected.

We cut 60% of our pre-war trade with Russia. We finished our energy dependency with Russia. Now, we are prioritising the fight against circumvention.

We have reached an important amount of military support: €28 billion. And for this year – 2024 – Member States are planning more than €20 billion in military assistance, both bilaterally, and through the European Union. 

It is a war in defence of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and it is a war in defence of the principles of the United Nations Charter. (…)

The next chapter will be written together, with Ukraine as a member of the European Union. That is what you want. And this decision to be made into reality. (…) 

And let me say, frankly, that for many years, corruption was the weak spot of Ukraine’s society. It has cost you a major gap in your development for the last 30 years. President Zelenskyy was elected with a mandate to fight corruption. There has been recent progress(…), but more has to be done. 

There is always a strong and understandable temptation to centralise power and limit freedom of expression when there is a war. However, in times of war, checks and balances are more important than ever.

Respect for the rule of law and fostering democratic dialogue between government and opposition will add to your resilience, and the capacity of the country to win the war.  

Being a democratic and inclusive society is your greatest advantage in the face of Putin's dictatorship.