Hanna Hopko, Chairwoman, ANTS NGO Network, Head of Foreign Affairs Committee at Ukrainian Parliament (2014-2019), Ukraine, during the online briefing “Trump the Peacemaker: How Ukraine Assesses the Efforts of the New U.S. President – and What It Means for Asia” called on Asian partners to take proactive action.

Please, find below the key messages the expert presented to opinion leaders from Asian countries:

What is at stake in Ukraine matters for both countries and nations in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as the entire world. Eleven years ago, when Russia invaded Ukraine, it was Russia alone. Now we see the China–Russia alliance, which has institutionalized its cooperation against Ukraine, Western partners, and democracies. Ukrainians understand the geopolitical importance of Ukraine defeating Russia, Russian imperialism, Chinese expansionism, and now a new American kind of neo-colonialism.

We have to focus on building and strengthening the capacity of the Coalition of Willing states, because pushing Ukraine towards capitulation creates a danger for all of us. Russia is not preparing for a ceasefire. They want not just Ukraine, but also Europe.

“America First” or “Make America Great Again” should not mean “US is alone” or “US goes against its strategic partners.” However, we are observing statements against NATO, attacking Europe and Ukraine. This becomes a kind of push for Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan to rethink their strategic partnership with the United States, as it seems like Trump is destroying respect with other nations and the credibility of the United States as a reliable partner.

Now peace or even a ceasefire cannot be achieved without justice. And it’s crucially important that Trump is now helping Russia avoid justice and accountability for the war crimes, crimes against humanity, and everything that’s happening. We all have to work more proactively with Americans, explaining to them what is at stake for them. Because it’s about the national interest and security of the United States – the American  defense system also requires partners for defense production. Americans cannot produce their fighter jets and other military equipment without partnering with other nations, including democracies in the Pacific. It’s all interconnected, interdependent.

Ukraine is an asset to our strategic partners; we are the only country that has unique practical combat experience in modern warfare: usage of UAVs, electronic warfare, drone production facilities. This is what is needed for the United States, for NATO countries and others.

I think it’s really important to explain to Americans that this naivety to decouple Russia from China, as one congressman said, is absurd and impossible. The Chinese and Russian economies, their military cooperation, and intelligence data sharing are deeply interconnected. The only way for America to be strong is to help Ukraine defeat Russia, and not to have this naive perception that they could withdraw Russia from China. Because what Trump is doing now is against what America stands for, and he is making America weak, giving leadership away.

The lesson our friends and partners in the Pacific region should understand is: help us faster, because you have these opportunities to contribute more. Don’t delay decisions; don’t expect that tomorrow Trump may change his position. If he changes it, that would be great, but we all have to be prepared for the worst-case scenario.

Video recording of the online briefing is available in English on New Europe`s Youtube Channel.

The online briefing was organized by the New Europe Center (Kyiv, Ukraine) in partnership with the Prospect Foundation (Taipei, Taiwan) and supported by the International Renaissance Foundation (Kyiv, Ukraine).