Al termine della manifestazione ufficiale, in un’atmosfera densa di sguardi grati e bandiere bicolore che intersecano l’azzurro e il giallo con il cuore del Friuli, abbiamo raccolto le parole dell’Ambasciatore per un’analisi profonda e senza filtri sul momento storico che stiamo attraversando.
Friuli-Ukraine Association: 20 Years of Building Bridges from the Heart Ukrainian Ambassador to Italy: “Surrender Is Not an Option at the Negotiating Table”
Some anniversaries cease to be mere milestones and become part of a country’s history — enduring bonds of solidarity that cross borders and withstand even the bombs of war. The 20th anniversary of the Friuli-Ukraine Association was more than a celebration. It became a collective embrace, warm and filled with palpable emotion. The event took on particular institutional significance with the presence of Ukraine’s Ambassador to Italy, Ihor Brusylo, and the Consul General in Milan, Volodymyr Vorona, who travelled to Friuli to pay tribute to a region that, from the very first day of the conflict, has never turned its back on Ukraine. At the heart of this extraordinary network of solidarity, today as in the past, is the Association’s President, Viktoriya Skyba, who leads every initiative with determination and empathy, combining organisational rigour with a deeply human approach capable of transforming the suffering of a people into concrete action.
The ceremony opened with a warm welcome from Fabio Galimberti, who introduced the institutional representatives and set the tone for a significant day. Representatives of the regional and municipal authorities then reaffirmed the strong bond between local institutions and the Ukrainian community. Another significant contribution came from Dr Davide Bardelli, an executive at Città Fiera. Recalling the logistical and humanitarian commitment made in the area, Bardelli said: “From the very beginning, we wanted to make a concrete contribution to supporting the Ukrainian people. It was natural for us to provide a suitable and protected space inside the shopping centre, a place that since 2022 has become the beating heart of the Association’s activities and the continuous collection of aid. It is a door that will remain open for as long as it is needed.”
At the end of the official ceremony, surrounded by grateful faces and the blue and yellow of Ukrainian flags intertwined with the colours and spirit of Friuli, we spoke with the Ambassador for a frank and in-depth assessment of this critical moment in history.
Mister Ambassador, a local association is celebrating twenty years of activity, and today its work seems almost to have anticipated history. What does the support of a region such as Friuli mean for Ukraine?
“It has the value of life itself. Diplomacy often takes place in grand government buildings, but true brotherhood is measured here, among ordinary people. Seeing an association that for twenty years, under the determined and capable leadership of its President, has built bonds of affection and assistance reminds us that Ukraine is not alone. “Friuli experienced the tragedy of the earthquake and the challenge of reconstruction. Perhaps this is why its people understand better than others what it means to see your home destroyed and still find the strength to rise again.”
Ambassador, let us turn to the heart of the conflict. What is the real situation in the war today?
“We are at an extremely delicate and crucial point. Sadly, we have reached the fifth year of this tragedy, and in recent weeks the attacks on Kyiv have intensified dramatically, targeting civilians and the city’s bridges in particular. “This is a brutal attempt to destabilise the situation, extending far beyond the military dimension. The attacks against civilians reveal a deliberate strategy of terror designed to intimidate and further weaken the population. The repeated attacks on the city’s main bridges are a clear indication of an attempt to strike the population and force people to leave or retreat from the city. “But I want to be very clear: surrender is not an option. It never has been, and it never will be. Over these years, we have paid an extremely high price, with thousands of lives lost.”
How do you believe Ukraine can overcome such a difficult moment?
“We are fully aware that a war does not end by itself. Our President, Volodymyr Zelensky, is ready to meet and sit down at the negotiating table, but it must be clear that he will do so without conditions or constraints imposed by Russia. “There are disagreements to overcome and conflicting interests to negotiate. This is precisely why there must be no restrictions or obligations imposed by anyone. Winter is now approaching, and there are objective difficulties for everyone. But our strength lies in our spirit.”
Over these five years, Ukrainians have demonstrated an extraordinary ability to make do with whatever was available. During the first weeks of the conflict, we even saw farmers’ tractors being used to defend Ukrainian land. Over time, Ukraine has become one of the world’s leading forces in the use of drones. What is the technological situation on the battlefield today?
“Yes, that is true. We have made the most of our ability to improvise, of that innate resilience that allowed us to hold out when no one believed we could. “Today, thanks also to the crucial support provided by other countries and all our allies, we continue to develop advanced technological defence systems. However, the situation now changes from week to week. “We are currently facing attacks from the latest generation of Russian drones, which have been upgraded with jet engines. They fly at speeds exceeding 500 kilometres per hour and at much higher altitudes than in the past, temporarily reducing our interception and defence capabilities. It is a constant technological and human challenge.”
Dr Bardelli recalled the logistics hub that has been operating at the shopping centre since 2022. How important are these centres of everyday solidarity while this new and devastating technological war is being fought on the front line?
“They are enormously important. Solidarity is not a passing emotion; it is a marathon. This space is more than a warehouse for material aid. It is a beacon. “Knowing that since 2022, every single day, people in Friuli have been collecting goods, medicines and hope for our soldiers and for our families living under bombardment gives us the strength to resist. “It is proof that a Europe of peoples exists, and that it is extraordinarily generous.”
If you had to sum up the emotion of this day in a message to the Ukrainian community in Italy and to the people of Friuli, what would you say?
“To my fellow Ukrainians, I say: be proud of your roots and grateful to the land that has welcomed you. “To the people of Friuli, our loyal allies, to the President of the Association and to all the volunteers, I simply say: Dyakuyu — thank you. “Today we are not merely celebrating the past. We are signing a pact for the future. This friendship, written from the heart, will outlive the war and blossom in peace.”
