Russian actions in Ukraine unacceptable, diplomats tell panel discussion in Budapest

As Russia’s actions and methods employed against Ukraine are unacceptable, members of the international community should stay united in their response to the conflict, diplomats said at a panel discussion hosted by the National Public Service University in Budapest on Thursday.

The discussion, entitled Hybrid Warfare – Threats and Challenges, was organised in partnership with the British, Canadian, Ukrainian and US embassies as part of a programme series focusing on Ukraine.

Opening the discussion, Ukrainian ambassador Liubov Nepop said that her country had been facing unconventional warfare.

Russia is employing not only conventional military methods against Ukraine but relies greatly on other tools that include propaganda campaigns and energy policy measures, she said.

Beside military threats, Moscow is also employing the tools of disinformation and propaganda not only in Ukraine, but in other European countries, too, she added.

Moscow also uses energy policy as a tool against Ukraine with the aim to block that country’s EU integration efforts by increasing its dependence on Russian gas supplies, the ambassador said.