Ohrid, 16 June 2022 (MIA) – Full-fledged European integration of Ukraine, as well as full-fledged European integration of your states, is a historical strengthening of Europe and a complete dismantling of Russia’s ability to beat us alone. We need a positive answer to our and your European perspective, and I am grateful to you for working together on such an answer, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address at a high-level session on “What after the war in Ukraine?” as part of the Prespa Forum Dialogue taking place in Ohrid on Thursday and Friday. “Now is a historic moment for Europe and European security, when everyone has to decide: what Europe is and what Europe will be like in the future. Will it be free as it is now? Will it be safe as most Europeans are used to? Will it be as socially and economically developed, inspiring societies outside Europe to change their way of life?,” asked Zelensky, who addressed the Prespa Forum Dialogue as special guest. He pointed out that for Ukraine, this was the most dreadful military challenge, and the Ukrainian people have been defending themselves for 113 days already against “Russia’s ambition to destroy the Ukrainian people and our culture.” “Russia has challenged us all – every nation on the continent, every region of Europe. By starting this war against Ukraine, Russia tried to create a springboard for attack on other nations of Europe. That is why our defense in this war and our future victory are fundamentally important for the security of everyone in Europe,” Zelensky stressed. All of us in a democratic world, the Ukrainian President continued, have faced an unprecedented energy crisis. “For many years Russia creates the impression that it is allegedly a reliable supplier of energy resources, but in reality it managed to make different European countries depend on it. An even worse scenario is being implemented in the food market. It provokes not only rising prices for basic foodstuffs, but also a new migrant crisis. And I will mention another element of Russia's anti-European policy – Russia is perhaps the world’s largest investor in propaganda,” said Zelensky. He noted that is why serious discussion of the security architecture in Europe must be based on the need to free Europe from the chains of dependence that the Russian state has been creating for decades. “Security is simply impossible without it. That is why such sanctions are needed for the anti-European policy of Russia. This should be taken into account in the preparation of the seventh EU sanctions package. And we need to realize that sanctions packages have, in fact, become part of the continent’s security architecture. They work for stability and peace limiting Russia’s ability to expand aggression,” said Zelensky. He underlined that Europe’s full energy independence is needed. “There can be no trade with Russia. And most importantly – we need to make the whole of Europe finally united. This is what Ukraine and your countries – the Western Balkans – are equally interested in. The EU-Western Balkans High Level Summit will take place soon. I sincerely wish it will be successful for your states. And I am grateful to you for the support of Ukraine that you provide at various levels, so that this June will be successful for our country in relations with the EU. By answering us about our European perspective, and by answering you about your European perspective, the nations of Europe and European politicians are answering questions about the future of Europe,” Zelensky concluded.