Davos special: Euronews discusses the Ukraine war with Finland’s Sanna Marin and Moldova’s Maia Sandu
By Euronews Brussels bureau
How long will Europe support Ukraine in its gruelling fight against Russia?
“Five years, ten years, 15 years – whatever it takes. We will support Ukraine and this will not stop.”
That was the uncompromising message delivered by Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin during a panel moderated by Euronews Business Editor Sasha Vakulina at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
For the occasion, Marin was joined by Moldovan President Maia Sandu, US Congressman Gregory Meeks and Engie Chairman Jean-Pierre Clamadieu. In an extensive conversation, the four guests reflected on the war’s geopolitical fallout, economic costs and human toll.
“When Russia attacked Ukraine, everything changed,” PM Marin said.
“Our neighbour was no longer the same neighbour. It was an aggressive neighbour that went across that border. And Finnish people asked themselves: ‘What is the border that Russia wouldn't cross?’ And that’s the NATO border.”
In Marin’s view, the invasion launched by President Vladimir Putin reverberates beyond the Eastern front and directly challenges the global “rules-based order.”
“We are not only in the war in Ukraine, but also in an energy war in Europe. Russia is using energy as a tool, as a weapon against Europe, and it tries to diminish our support to Ukraine,” the Finnish leader said.
“Putin (wants) us to be afraid of Russia, of what might happen. He wants us and our citizens to think: 'What are the prices of the war?' And we are already seeing people frustrated with the high energy prices everywhere in Europe. But the answer is not to weaken our support towards Ukraine. The answer needs to be actually the opposite.”
Moldova, a country that before the war was 100% dependent on Russian fossil fuels, suffered first-hand the Kremlin’s blackmail but managed nevertheless to diversify its energy mix and keep its economy running.
“This was not easy,” admitted President Sandu.
“We feel bad that our people have to pay a high price. But we believe in democracy. We value democracy. We want to be part of the free world. And the only solution is to stay together. And yes, it is difficult, but we have to help Ukraine win this war because, otherwise, all of us will be in danger.”
Sitting next to Sandu, Engie’s Jean-Pierre Clamadieu used his insider knowledge to add a note of much-needed optimism.
“We are in a situation today where I'm pretty confident to say that there won't be disruption in the supply of energy, neither gas nor electricity in Europe,” Clamadieu told the Davos audience, noting energy prices have gone down but remain much higher than average.
“Frankly speaking,” he noted, “thanks to the alignment of political decision-makers and industries, we’ve been able to go through this year of 2022 probably much better than we expected when this conflict started.”
With the worst effects of the energy crisis under control and inflation returning to single digits, a growing number of banks and analysts have revised their forecasts upwards, suggesting the eurozone might, against all odds, be able to avoid falling into recession.
The glimmers of hope are encouraging Europe and the US to step up their support for Ukraine at a crucial time when Kyiv prepares a counteroffensive in the east and Russia re-deploys its troops. But the key to victory, the leaders said, lies in Western weaponry – heavy weaponry.
“I think that you will continue to see Ukraine winning this war and fighting when we give them the ammunition and what they need to fight. Because that determination – that's not going to change. That’s unshakeable,” said Congressman Meeks.
“What is absolutely devastating to Putin is our solid unity.”
EURONEWS ON THE GROUND Check out our coverage of the World Economic Forum, from Ursula von der Leyen’s highly-anticipated speech to the summit’s climate footprint.
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WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON?
THE FRONTLINE Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy has announced a criminal investigation into the helicopter crash that killed Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskyy and 13 other people. Meanwhile, Germany faces mounting pressure in and outside Europe to authorise the export of Leopard 2 tanks to Kyiv. “Russia's war of aggression must fail,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in Davos. A meeting with US officials might help break the impasse. And Russia and Belarus began joint military exercises, sparking fears of a fresh ground offensive.
‘REVEALING’ DETAILS Pier Antonio Panzeri, the former MEP suspected of being at the epicentre of the corruption scandal engulfing the European Parliament, has signed a deal with the Belgian authorities under which he admits his guilt and pledges to share “revealing” and “substantial” details to help the investigation. According to his lawyer, Panzeri has confessed to having links with both Qatar and Morocco. “It means that he is at least one of the leaders of an organisation that had as one of its objectives to corrupt people,” the lawyer told our colleague Alice Tidey.
CHANGE OF GUARD Meanwhile, the European Parliament has elected Marc Angel, a first-term socialist MEP from Luxembourg, as one of its 14 Vice-Presidents, filling the vacant spot left by Eva Kaili, who remains in prison over the so-called Qatargate. “We all have to become champions of transparency and champions of anti-corruption,” Angel told Euronews right after his election in Strasbourg.
WHO IS WHO? If after so many twists and turns you’re feeling dizzy and struggling to make sense of the widening corruption scandal, Euronews presents the essential guide to understand who is who.
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