Anušić Tells Harvard Students: Europe and the World Must Help Ukraine

Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ivan Anušić has concluded a two-day official visit to the Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics in the United States with a meeting with a group of Croatian students at Harvard University. He was a guest of a study group led by Nathalie Rayes, former US Ambassador to Croatia.

The Croatian students discussed with the minister the opportunities and benefits of studying at Harvard, one of the world's most prestigious universities, as well as the security situation in Croatia's neighbourhood and across Europe, and Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

As part of Rayes's study group, titled *On the Frontlines of European Security: NATO, Ukraine and the Future of the West*, Anušić discussed the challenges facing European and transatlantic security. He also shared his personal and professional experiences, from serving in the Croatian Homeland War to leading the Ministry of Defence amid today's geopolitical challenges.

Sharing His Personal Experience

During his discussion with Nathalie Rayes, Anušić spoke to students about his experiences in the Homeland War, the establishment of the Croatian state and the creation and development of the Croatian Armed Forces, which were built during the 1990s war. He also outlined the extensive modernisation process the military is currently undergoing.

The minister highlighted Croatia's continued support for Ukraine in its defence against Russian aggression, which is now entering its fifth year. Since the beginning of the war, Croatia has provided the Ukrainian people with military, humanitarian and development assistance, as well as support through European Union financial instruments.

Europe and the World Must Help Ukraine

“Certain parallels can be drawn between Croatia's Homeland War and the war in Ukraine. Croatia fought against a far more powerful aggressor, just as Ukraine has been courageously resisting Russian aggression for the fifth year running. Europe and the world must help Ukraine in its fight for freedom, because this is the only way to prevent Russian aggression from spreading further across Europe,” Anušić told the Harvard students.