It’s time to change the way we think about Ukraine. It’s not about saving it, but about how it can save other countries. Since the beginning of Russia’s large-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, Ukraine has been seen as a victim – destined for defeat. It was believed to have truth on its side, but would lose without external support. This approach flattered Ukraine’s Western allies, as it placed them at the center of the story, says Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s special representative for Ukraine’s reconstruction.
Although Ukraine is indeed an innocent victim of a brutal war, this definition hides another equally important truth. It is not just suffering, but also a struggle with impressive resistance, ingenuity, and effectiveness. Last week, US President Donald Trump rightly said in his speech to the UN: Ukraine is capable of victory.
“This matters because a strong Ukraine is a valuable ally. Vladimir Putin’s recent actions in Central and even Western Europe show that NATO needs Ukraine as a shield against Russian aggression. Europe rightly pays attention to rearmament, but there is already an army that has independently proven it can resist the Kremlin – the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” argues Freeland.
Freeland adds that Ukraine has become Europe’s innovative power – creating, testing, and improving drones and missiles, applying a decentralized approach to war and technology that resembles Silicon Valley more than the Pentagon.
Freeland emphasizes that it is important to learn from the Ukrainians: how to wage war in the 21st century and how to produce and improve the necessary weapons in real time.
“The most important thing is that Ukraine needs success after the war. A strong and prosperous state will become a shield, an arsenal, and an innovation center for Europe. Such a Ukraine will not only protect Europe’s security, but will also make the whole world safer, confirming the key principle of the post-war order from 1945,” says Canada’s special representative for Ukraine’s reconstruction.
It’s time to stop seeing Ukraine as a victim and recognize that it is capable of becoming a winner. Donald Trump has already emphasized that Ukraine is strong enough to win the war, and Friedrich Merz has pointed out that a successful Ukraine is in Europe’s interest.
“By helping Ukrainians build a prosperous, sovereign, and secure state in the long term, the West simultaneously strengthens its own security and prosperity,” concludes Freeland.
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