“Many countries have armored vehicles, they have fighter planes, they have air defense systems, but I know they are still hesitant. If they say we are fighting all over Europe, why don’t they give us weapons?”, said human rights lawyer Lusa in an interview with the European Commission on Wednesday. Asked the question on the sidelines of the Sakharov Prize ceremony, presented by Parliament, in Strasbourg, France.
“We’re not asking them to fight the Russians with us, we can do that ourselves. But give us the weapons to do it. I can’t fathom not doing that,” he lamented, adding that the West appears to have given Ukraine everything it needs to fight Russian aggression.
“Unfortunately not. We still have a huge need for modern weapons,” said Oleksandra Matvichuk, founder of the Human Rights Organization for Civil Liberties of Ukraine.
To illustrate the appeal, the activist told a personal story.
“I have a friend who was very brave when Russia started this war in 2014, and when the full-scale invasion started, he returned to the army. He left behind his six-year-old son and continued to fight for a peaceful future. He was one of the Ukrainian defenders who liberated the Kharkiv region. He participated in the war for his son. .that was a week ago [vítima] A mine explosion [apesar de] Being in a civilian car”, he recalled, underlining that Ukraine still uses civilian cars to fight.
“We don’t have enough armored vehicles. If we had armored vehicles, my friend wouldn’t be fighting for her life in a hospital bed right now.
Despite confirming that “personally, I understand” that the NATO military alliance does not want to engage in a direct war, the lawyer guarantees that Ukraine needs more help.
“I understand that it is our duty to fight the aggressors. But what we are asking is not to allow us to fight with empty hands,” he said.
According to him, politicians who make decisions should be called to reason, and that includes building people’s movements.
“What is heard depends on how many people can be mobilized in a common call for justice. That’s why in my Nobel speech I talked about movements, horizontal cooperation, solidarity, joint efforts,” he explained.
For Oleksandra Matviychuk, the future of Europe depends on ordinary people and their decisions.
“If our brave fellow Russian human rights defenders [co-vencedores do Prémio Nobel]Those with only their words decided to openly call a spade a spade – they called war a war and atrocities atrocity – and people with more tools could organize demonstrations, press their governments to support Ukraine and provide more weapons and economy. Help”, said the activist.
But not only. Ordinary people “can make a very simple decision: say they don’t want to buy gas from Russia because freedom is valuable,” he said.
“It is not a choice between two types of gas and two types of prices. It is a choice between supporting an authoritarian model or supporting democracy,” he added.
“Europe has a choice between some discomfort today or disaster tomorrow. The choice is to defeat Putin and end Russia’s bid to restore the Russian empire.
“Common people” indeed, the Ukrainian activist considers his inspiration.
“When Russian troops tried to encircle Kiev, international organizations immediately withdrew their personnel. Even those who are supposed to be with us to monitor human rights violations and provide humanitarian aid. We appealed in March to please come back. They didn’t come back. But the civilians stayed. They help each other,” he said. The winner of two of the most important peacekeeping awards said that he also sees himself as an ordinary person.
“I also refused to leave the country”, he said, admitting that the Nobel Peace Prize brought him a new responsibility as the distinction “offers a unique opportunity for questioning”.
“Hardcore explorer. Extreme communicator. Professional writer. General music practitioner. Prone to fits of apathy.”