00:00 Well, with me here in the studio is Olga Stepanichnaya.
00:04 She is deputy prime minister for the European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine.
00:09 As such, she's responsible for Ukraine's integration into both the EU and NATO.
00:14 Welcome to DW.
00:15 Good morning.
00:16 Let's begin with that breakthrough yesterday in Brussels.
00:21 EU leaders finally approved that 50 billion euro package for Ukraine.
00:27 What does that mean for your country?
00:30 Well, that means a lot.
00:31 And first and foremost, it's a message to all Ukrainian people, Ukrainian medical workers,
00:39 social workers, teachers, that they will have their necessary payments and to Ukrainian
00:47 society, which has the signal that it will survive throughout the four years.
00:52 Because we're not only surviving through the war and fighting on the front line.
00:57 There is 30 million, 30 plus million people which have to survive through war on a daily
01:02 basis.
01:03 And this decision is vital.
01:05 This 50 billion from Europe for four years from the European Union, is that really going
01:11 to be enough to cover all the needs, the financial needs for the country?
01:15 Because it must be extremely difficult keeping your war economy going while you're fighting
01:21 a war against Russia.
01:23 Situation is different from 2002 and now.
01:26 The amount of necessary resources to cut the budget shortages is much smaller because we
01:33 have tightened our conditions.
01:36 All the revenues from national budgets are targeted to fight the war and defend ourselves.
01:41 So these resources are not enough.
01:43 Of course, we're waiting for a decision at the US administration.
01:47 But it shows the commitment of Europe to stand with Ukraine.
01:52 And I think it's more than the resources.
01:55 But financially, we will be able to survive with these resources as well.
01:59 Hungary, an EU member state, long opposed this aid package for Ukraine and was able
02:06 to successfully block it for weeks and weeks in Brussels.
02:11 Do you sense that support for Ukraine within the European Union is diminishing?
02:18 I don't think so.
02:19 I don't think so.
02:21 On the opposite, Ukraine has generally opened the window for the transformation of the European
02:26 Union and every member state is looking for its place in it.
02:29 I just saw Prime Minister Orban coming to the European Council in his tie of peace.
02:34 It's green, usually it's pink or red.
02:37 So which means that the transformation started.
02:40 And I think, unfortunately, Ukraine has to fight the war.
02:44 But at the end of the day, it will result in a stronger union, united together.
02:49 So color symbolism important there.
02:52 Talk to us about the trajectory of the war and how it's influencing Ukraine's prospects
02:59 of joining the EU and NATO.
03:02 Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russia has stalled by most accounts.
03:07 Russian forces are dug in on Ukrainian territory.
03:10 Vladimir Putin shows no sign of backing down.
03:14 Is EU or NATO membership realistic under these circumstances?
03:20 Well, let's not forget that Ukraine has secured the Black Sea corridor, which is one of the
03:27 major military operations which will be part of the history.
03:30 And you cannot say that the front is stuck.
03:33 And we're also a war in which Ukraine tests the new technologies, which means that the
03:41 front is not the way you have seen it over the Second World War.
03:45 But on EU, it's very clear.
03:48 So all the decisions and commitment has been made.
03:51 Ukraine is in the process and Ukraine's administration is perfectly capable on delivering EU on that.
03:56 On NATO, the decision has been taken in Vilnius that Ukraine will become a member of NATO.
04:00 And since then, all the decisions have been implemented.
04:03 So I think that basically now the issue of the next step, whether it's invitation or
04:09 I will have discussions in the chancellery today, what could that be?
04:14 It's not that political.
04:16 It's a normal process.
04:18 And it's perfectly the legal solution which stumbled the commitment to military financial
04:23 support to Ukraine and persistence to the end of this war and restoration of peace.
04:28 So I think the angle of a discussion is different now because Ukraine's membership to NATO is
04:33 vital for the allies.
04:35 It's critical to end the war in Ukraine and not allow it to cross the NATO border and
04:41 basically to secure the borders of the European Union.
04:45 So you'd say that Ukraine's EU and NATO membership aspirations are on track?
04:52 Perfectly.
04:54 Let's talk about, I'd like to get your thoughts on Ukraine's relations with the US.
04:59 US, clearly an important backer of Ukraine in this war against Russia.
05:05 League for Ukraine is being blocked right now in the US Congress by Republicans.
05:11 And there's a good chance that Donald Trump will return to the White House as president
05:16 after the election later this year.
05:18 How concerning is that prospect for you?
05:21 Well, of course, Ukraine is anxious about any potential tensions which delay the decisions
05:28 on financial or military support because every decision directly affects Ukrainian people.
05:35 And some of the Congress people told me that you can't play poker, so don't distract us
05:44 from that.
05:46 That's OK.
05:47 This is the politics.
05:48 We have to survive at any condition and we will survive at any condition.
05:52 But we still see that the situation probably would have to get to the total absurd to see
05:57 that the decision is obvious and it's on the surface.
06:00 So I'm really happy that NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has been in DC and I guess
06:06 Chancellor Stoltz is planning his visit as well.
06:09 I think this is a very important show of solidarity that Europe is stand strong for its security,
06:15 but US role is still vital at this point.
06:18 Olga Stepanishina, Deputy Prime Minister for the European and Euro-Atlantic integration
06:23 of Ukraine, thank you very much for talking with us here today.
