Reznikov says the future of Europe will be decided in Ukraine

In a Dec. 3 article for atlanticcouncil.org,
newly-appointed Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov declared that the future of
Europe would be decided in Ukraine. Reznikov argued that the effects of a
possible Russian attack on Ukraine would, among other things, disrupt on a
grand scale food imports from Ukraine to the EU, with grain first and foremost.
Moreover, grain imports from Russia could also be at risk.The possibility of
“between four and five million” Ukrainian refugees flooding into the EU would
be “just one of many concerns for European society”, Reznikov wrote.

Reznikov also pointed to the announcement by U.S.
President Joe Biden that he would keep Russia under observation. Since that
time, Russia has “effectively completed the Anschluss of Belarus, mounted a
hybrid attack against NATO and EU member states by funneling migrants towards
their borders and blatantly weaponized energy supplies, which, coincidentally,
Western leaders had pledged to prevent.”

As for the Ukrainian defense, Reznikov assured readers
that the Ukrainian military and people were fully prepared to put up a spirited
defense, but that if overwhelmed, Russia could invade but not hold the occupied
land. He stated that only convincing Russia that the cost of a new offensive
would be too high in military terms, and with “negative political, economic,
and social repercussions” would stop it. Furthermore, “Failure to respond
decisively to Russia’s latest threats will only raise the cost of containing
the Kremlin.”

James Hydzik: Reznikov’s
argument that the EU’s ability to feed itself via Ukrainian grain would be
under threat if invaded might turn some heads. Russia’s export controls on
grain have already turned to Ukraine’s benefit, so the issue is pertinent. The
prospect of millions of refugees might also result in stiffened resolve in the
EU despite being brandished as a threat earlier by the Russians.

As an introduction, the article places Reznikov as a
capable speaker for Ukraine’s military interests, and possibly, the most
convincing one to date.