Statement by Canadian Centre for Development of Democracy in Russia, an authorized representative in Canada of THE CONGRESS OF PEOPLE'S DEPUTIES – an interim transitory Parliament of Russia.
An urgent appeal to the Government of Canada ahead of the Vilnius Summit of July 11-12, 2023.
We strongly call for a clear and quick timeline for Ukraine becoming a full member of NATO. Ukraine is defending European values, freedom, and democracy against a brutal Russian aggression. Russia's stated objective is to force NATO withdrawal to the 1997 borders.
Russian officials stated they want to achieve it by any means necessary. By conquering Ukraine, Putin hopes to have an additional mobilizational resource for a war against NATO, similar to the forced mobilization already conducted in occupied territories of Donbas and Crimea. Thus, Russia embodies the worst aspects of colonialism, imperialist revanchism and militarist ideology focused on a total confrontation with the West, destroying established security principles and international order, as well as the principle of inviolability of international borders. Russian aggression against Ukraine is not an obstacle for Ukraine to join NATO, but rather an opportunity to strengthen the alliance and increase collective security across the North Atlantic. Ukraine now has the most experienced military force in Europe. As such, Ukraine itself is a safety guarantee for Europe and NATO.
This will make any large-scale war in Europe in the future impossible. Having gone through years of reform, training, use of NATO standards and equipment, Ukraine meets the key requirements to be a NATO member. Indecisiveness only emboldens Russia. Risk aversion only emboldens Russia. Appeasement only emboldens Russia. Over-analyzing and over-planning only emboldens Russia. Requiring obscure, vague and ambiguous "reforms", without specifying what these reforms are, only emboldens Russia. Making excuses emboldens Russia. Not calling out Russian terrorism and ecocide emboldens Russia. Supplying military equipment by a teaspoon emboldens Russia. Waiting over a year to provide Ukraine with modern aircraft emboldens Russia. And Putin can certainly use some of that emboldenment, especially given how a few weeks ago he nearly lost his capital in one day to a few thousand lightly armed Wagner troops.
Ukraine needs to become part of NATO as soon as possible, with no excuses, hesitations, or reservations. It is time for the West to once again be an arsenal of democracy - not an arsenal of bureaucracy. We ask the Government of Canada to call for an accelerated process of Ukraine to join NATO at the Vilnius NATO Summit, and to immediately ratify Ukraine's ascending to a full NATO member in advance.
Sincerely, Kirill Lyagushev, President of Canadian Centre for Development of Democracy in Russia, Permanent representative in Canada of the Executive Committee of The Congress of People's Deputies (Montreal, Canada);
Dmitri Makienko, Vice-President of Canadian Centre for Development of Democracy in Russia (Ottawa, Canada).
