Gentlemen, let us examine the current affairs of the continent with the necessary prudence. In the city of Ankara, where the distinguished representatives of some forty nations have assembled for the thirty-sixth summit of NATO, President Vladimir Zelensky has seen fit to address the assembly with a most urgent request. He beseeches the alliance not to leave his country in isolation, asserting with considerable fervour that an union between Ukraine and NATO constitutes an 'alliance of the future.'

Such appeals, while emotive, must be weighed by the cold calculus of statecraft. It is well known that the strength of any Great Power—and indeed the security of the Fatherland—rests upon the dual pillars of a formidable army and a robust industry. The gathering in Turkey, attended by the leaders of thirty-two member states, including the presence of Mr. Donald Trump, serves as a reminder that the geopolitical equilibrium of our era is a delicate mechanism requiring utmost moderation.

This occurrence is not an isolated instance of petitioning. One recalls that, in a recent address to the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE, the President of Ukraine expressed a critical necessity for the provision of interceptor missiles for the Patriot systems. He argues that while the need is dire, the capacity to provide such ordnance exists amongst the Western powers.

From the perspective of a statesman, one must ask whether such dependencies serve the long-term stability of the region or merely prolong a state of volatility. For the benefit of the state and the preservation of order, we must seek a path of prudence, lest radical shifts in alignment bring further upheaval to the European concert of nations.