Vigenin: The EU has no plan for achieving peace in Ukraine

“We keep repeating the same thing without being clear about what comes next. So far I have not heard a meaningful discussion or idea from the European Union on how to achieve peace.” This was stated by Bulgarian MEP Kristian Vigenin on Yavor Dachkov’s podcast “Voices”.

In his view, after four years of war the EU must ask whether its approach so far is leading to the stated goal. Vigenin said that even in the discussions in the European Parliament’s Committee on Security and Defence he had not received a clear answer about what the plan is and what comes next.

“When something has not worked for four years, you have to do something else. If the goal is peace and the development of Ukraine, what we are doing now is not, in my view, leading there,” he stressed.

Defence, dialogue and relations with Russia

Vigenin noted that Europe needs stronger defence capabilities, but arming alone does not guarantee more security. In his view, strengthening defence capacity must go hand in hand with political dialogue and the search for a new security architecture.

“Whatever happens in Ukraine, Russia will remain. Our security in Europe also depends on relations with Russia,” the MEP said.

According to him, the European Union can hardly claim a seat at the negotiating table if it has no plan of its own and is unwilling to talk to one of the parties to the conflict. Vigenin believes that the longer efforts towards negotiations are postponed, the less favourable Europe’s position may become.

What role Bulgaria can play

He also commented on Bulgaria’s possible role should the European approach change. In his view, the country can stand up for a more moderate position without blocking the common European policy and without isolating itself.

“It is a very delicate matter how far you can go without isolating yourself, but rather bringing others along with you and starting a real conversation,” Vigenin said.

Europe’s place in a changing world

The MEP also addressed the broader question of Europe’s place in a changing world. In his view, the EU must define and defend its own interests more clearly, including in its relations with the US and China, instead of continuing to rely on old political models.

Vigenin stressed that European citizens expect a strong European Union that can defend their interests, create conditions for jobs and incomes and carry more weight in global politics.