The European security system is impossible without Ukraine and the Armed Forces of Ukraine: Yaroslav Romanchuk

Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine finally destroyed the illusions about the stability and security of the European continent. What seemed inviolable ten years ago—the long-term peace, the security architecture, the transatlantic alliances—today looks weak and vulnerable. In its fourth year of fierce fighting, the biggest war in Europe since World War II has become a catalyst for a change in the consciousness of EU citizens. Societies no longer perceive security as an abstract category or a military “game” – it is now a priority that requires decisive action and structural restructuring. In this context, Ukraine ceases to be only a “partner in trouble”. It is increasingly acting as a real security entity — with the strongest army in Europe, practical experience in deterring Russian aggression, a flexible economy and resources that can become part of Europe’s new defense model. Is Europe able to rethink its values ​​and alliances, recognize the failures of the past and start building a new security system — not only for Ukraine, but together with Ukraine? About this ponders economist, academic director of the Ukrainian Institute of Economic Leadership Yaroslav Romanchuk

In his opinion, the issue of security has once again become decisive for the citizens of the European Union countries. This is evidenced by the data of the Eurobarometer 103 survey, published in May 2025: 78% of residents of EU countries consider security to be one of the main problems. In Germany, they are 84%, in Poland – 86%, in Italy – 81%, in France – 77%, in Spain – 76%, in the Netherlands – 79%, in Denmark – 75%. This creates a new consensus in European society.

Romanchuk emphasizes that 81% of residents of EU countries support the common security policy, and this is the highest indicator in the last 20 years. In Germany – 90%, Lithuania – 89%, the Netherlands – 88%, Spain – 85%, Italy – 82%, Sweden – 82%, Poland – 79%, France – 75%, even in Austria – 68%. In his opinion, this is the weightiest, most solid and most valuable consensus in the history of the existence of the European Union.

The European Union was created from the very beginning to ensure lasting peace after two world wars. As Romanchuk points out, it was Europe that became the testing ground for misanthropic ideologies – Nazism, fascism, communism, and other forms of collectivism. Tens of millions of human lives were thrown into this furnace of ideological madness. The history of Europe is the story of the gigantic price paid for the search for peace through collectivist utopias.

After the collapse of the Soviet totalitarian system, Europe, according to Romanchuk, believed that democracy and freedom had finally won. In the 1990s, she did not understand the essence of the Russian empire, with its deep-rooted networks – party, nomenclature-economic, security, organized crime and secret service-religious networks. Europe celebrated, throwing joyful shouts of game over, not seeing that it had made the decision to de facto turn the NATO security system into a museum exhibit, into a military performance – a kind of army game.

At the same time, Romanchuk notes, powerful economic ties were developed with post-Soviet Russia – not with ordinary people, not with supporters of freedom and capitalism, but with representatives of network structures that used law, force, propaganda and mass manipulation to monetize power. And with the arrival of Putin, this power was centralized. Demoralized, poor, dispersed Russia was transformed into an aggressive Nazi, fascist imperial project. Putin became the capo di tutti capi – the boss of the single control center of the key network structures of the Russian Federation: the FSB, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the GRU, the SVR, organized criminal groups, and the Russian Orthodox Church. This octopus not only captured Russia, but also took over the international network created by the Soviet totalitarian system.

According to Romanchuk, this network carried out a quick rebranding, launched mass propaganda of false clichés – about “great Russian culture”, that “Russia has never lost”, that it is a “country of traditional values” and “a reliable partner in ensuring energy and climate security”. Ideologues such as “the West humiliates Russia, which seeks only peace” were imposed on the public discourse of Europe.

Romanchuk emphasizes that the European Union for decades ignored the warnings of the Baltic countries and Poland, which understood the insides of the Soviet-racist empire better than others. However, influential businessmen and politicians from Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands did not trust Lithuanians and Poles, but rather Russian representatives of network structures that became “their” in Davos, Brussels, Berlin, Rome, Paris. Vienna has turned into a hub of Russian “soft power”.

It was because of this infiltration, in his opinion, that the EU itself destroyed its own security system. Russia, operating through a network of spies, agents of influence, useful idiots in politics, business, civil society and the media, has paralyzed Europe by focusing its attention on climate change, the gender agenda, unconditional income, LGBTQIA2S+ collective narratives, equality, the “new balance of South and North”. The COVID pandemic has only exacerbated this distortion. Even after the Russian aggression against Georgia and the start of the war against Ukraine in 2014, the EU continued to dismantle its security architecture, counting on NATO, that is, the USA. But the Americans under the Obama/Biden administrations, according to Romanchuk, themselves turned security into a meme. And it is quite likely that imperial Russia took part in this.

He notes that precisely when Ukraine’s weakness, European infantilism, US indifference, Russia’s aggressiveness and its military-industrial base reached a critical point, Putin’s regime launched a full-scale invasion. He hoped to end the war in two or three days. But this war has been going on for more than three and a half years. And the very fact of its duration is a convincing evidence of the weakness of the European and Euro-Atlantic security system. According to Romanchuk, this is a complete failure of the main political parties in Europe, which have become faceless, amorphous, indifferent to freedom and capitalism. That is why support for alternatives has increased – parties that are pro-business, pro-Russia, anti-Ukraine, anti-EU.

He emphasizes: now EU citizens have clearly defined their security priorities. It is time to make bold decisions. If NATO cannot be resuscitated, it should be left to die. If the transatlantic forces, including the USA, can break free from the noose of populism and immoral appeasement of the aggressor, if NATO countries stop shameful commercial relations with Russia, then the security system can be built around NATO, but with the mandatory participation of Ukraine.

Romanchuk claims: Ukraine has the most capable army in Europe. This is a unique asset not only for Ukraine, but for the entire West. In such a situation, it is not Ukraine that should pay for participation in NATO or the EU, but on the contrary, it is Ukraine that should determine the parameters of cooperation. If more than 80% of EU citizens are in favor of a common security system, the inclusion of Ukraine in this system is beneficial to everyone, except those obsessed with racism.

Under strict budget restrictions in the EU, he notes, supporting the Armed Forces and locating weapons production in Ukraine are materially beneficial. In Ukraine, it is cheaper, faster and, perhaps, of better quality – if Swedish, German, French, Polish or Italian companies are involved in the production. However, for this, Romanchuk believes, Ukroboronprom should be completely liquidated as a rudiment of the Soviet state planning model. A key component of the new security should be fusion: a combination of European corporate governance and Ukrainian private arms production.

He calculates: every dollar invested in Ukraine’s military industry will give the EU 2-4 times more military power. Projects will be launched 3-5 times faster than in the European bureaucracy. Each military professional of the Armed Forces costs the EU 2-5 times less than a European soldier. But, he emphasizes, there should be representatives of the EU in the management of the Ukrainian Armed Forces at the level of training and headquarters – in order to build trust between partners.

Romanchuk emphasizes: partnership in the military sphere is a winning topic for European governments. Its implementation will destroy the political platform of pro-Russian forces in the EU, such as Orban, Fico, and Mentzen, if he does not stop spouting delusions about Ukraine beneficial to Russia.

He considers it a mistake to spend efforts on compliance with the norms of Eurobureaucracy, which has been destroying Europe’s competitiveness for decades. The Brussels, German, French, Italian Deep state does not surrender positions. It must be disarmed and neutralized. For this, Ukraine needs a completely new political thinking, a qualitatively new policy. It is necessary to knock out of the hands of skeptics those “trump cards” that they use to discredit Ukraine.

He emphasizes: the task of the government is to neutralize its own Deep state, to carry out deregulation, debureaucratization, liberalization, privatization. Military industry and defense capability are an absolute imperative today. This is what should determine the economic policy. Ukraine can get more and faster through military industry than in any other direction. The Military Industry and Armed Forces are our national trump card, even a joker.

Romanchuk concludes: if this card is played correctly, Ukraine will receive institutions of rapid economic development for decades to come. This is the same growth that President Zelenskyi, Head of the Office of the President, Minister of Economy Svyridenko are talking about. The ZSU-VPC connection will give true capitalism with freedom and private property, this is a 100% winning combination. However, in order for it to work, for the first time in 34 years, Ukrainian capital owners have to offer the country real liberalism and capitalism – based on the entrepreneurial growth model of Mises, Hayek, Schumpeter and Romanchuk himself.