The European Union commemorates four years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine with a USFQ conversation
During her remarks, Ambassador Dorodnova said: “the position of the European Union stands firm in its quest for a just and lasting peace for Ukraine. We reaffirm our commitment to stability and development, ensuring comprehensive support - political, economic, military and diplomatic - that will extend as long as necessary to ensure that Ukraine faces any negotiations from a position of maximum strength. In addition, in an emotional assessment, the European diplomat denounced the human impact of the war, noting both the energy crisis suffered by thousands of families and the dramatic fate of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia, whose restitution is an urgent priority.
For his part, Ambassador Yuriy Polyukhovych emphasized that peace cannot be consolidated at the expense of his nation's sovereignty. During his speech, he said: “We are very grateful to the international community, and in particular to the European Union, which supports efforts to achieve a just peace”. He cautioned, however, that the decisive factor remains the aggressor's real willingness to cease hostilities, noting that, to date, Russia has not demonstrated a genuine intention to do so. Regarding the bilateral relationship, the Ambassador highlighted the growing mutual interest in strengthening political, economic, educational and cultural cooperation with Ecuador, reaffirming the commitment to move towards a permanent diplomatic presence in the country as soon as conditions permit.
High-level professors also enriched the dialogue from various perspectives. Professor Lester Cabrera, reaffirmed the importance of the basic norms of coexistence between nations stipulated in International Law; stressed that the territorial integrity of Ukraine is non-negotiable. For her part, journalist Tania Orbe addressed the "parallel war", that of disinformation. He warned about how distorted narratives travel from Russia to Ecuador and pointed out that any attack on press freedom produces a direct affect on democracy. Finally, Professor Daniel Crespo mentioned that this war of attrition has an alarming human cost that includes the loss of civilians, internal displacement, the refugee crisis and the enormous challenges posed by the recovery of Ukrainian territory.
A highlight of the event was the emotional participation of the Ukrainian community living in Ecuador, whose presence reinforced the urgency of keeping the memory of this conflict alive. In this space of reflection, deep recognition was extended to the Ukrainian people for their unwavering courage and resilience, while the solidarity provided by Ecuador was highlighted. This bond of mutual support reaffirms the shared commitment to peace, human rights and the hope of an early return to freedom.