Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine delivered the guest lecture to the new SE MBA program participants 2022 – 2023. Guest lectures by outstanding entrepreneurs, managers, thinkers and prominent public officials are a part of the SE MBA curriculum. Here are the highlights of Ms. Danilov’s lecture:

-We understand that each and every country supporting us has its own situation and interests. The UK provides us with unprecedented assistance. After Brexit, they are back to high politics as an independent player.

- Could we reclaim the occupied territories in Luhansk and Donetsk by military force only? Yes, we have been able to do so since 2018. However, we would have had massive civilian casualties in such a scenario. There are too many Ukrainians who live there because they do not have any other choice because of numerous reasons.

- It is our homeland. We are not fleeing anywhere. We have already proved that we are difficult to stop. Defeat is not an option for us. If our enemies are going to try an offensive, we have 250-thousand army, ten thousand territorial defense forces, and ten thousand Special Operation Forces. SOF is a specialized closed unit where people are trained according to the NATO standards. They are present in any part of Ukraine and can accomplish any assignment no matter how difficult it is. We have 420 thousand veterans, the National Guard, and the National Police. 850 thousand hunters in Ukraine own weapons.

-  Each process starts and finishes. Nothing lasts forever. RF cannot keep the tension high. There are other participants in the process e.g. the US, France, the UK each having its own agenda. All affect us. Sometimes even small things we do not pay attention to are important.

- Freedom is too important for us, Ukrainians. We can argue among ourselves over many things. But when it comes to our values we are together. We have already done that.