Diplomat Roman Bessmertnyi, Ukraine’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Belarus (2010–2011), stated this on Espreso TV.“Anyone familiar with Article 5 (of NATO) and who has not read it only in excerpts, articles, or materials knows well that it is even weaker than the Budapest Memorandum. Pay attention to the second paragraph of this article: it is not NATO as a whole that decides on assistance to a victim, but each country individually, and in the scope it deems necessary. This is still weaker than the Budapest Memorandum. Therefore, those who say that if we go this route, a whole set of additional agreements is needed — agreements that would lay out mechanisms for implementation — are right. That is the first point. And the second, very important point: responding to security guarantees should not be based on yesterday’s assessment, but on tomorrow’s threats. Tomorrow’s threats, I emphasize, because Russia, in its aggressive actions, plans to expand the war and create new conflict zones. Based on this, we must talk about united European forces, a unified command, and the involvement of Ukraine as part of these forces — not only guarantees for Ukraine’s security but for Europe’s security as well,” he said.Bessmertnyi stressed that the idea that defending Ukraine alone can stop Russia’s aggressive policy is a huge mistake.The diplomat believes Europe must prepare for war.“Europe must not only be equipped and possess an excellent defense-industrial complex and mobilized armies. Europe must prepare for war. The idea that Russia will not fight against NATO countries, or does not want to fight, is believing those who continuously deceive and manipulate, who do it to later attack. Well-informed intelligence agencies in European countries know perfectly well what Russia is doing now — using hybrid warfare, cutting cables and communications, conducting reconnaissance, committing terrorist acts, mobilizing and blackmailing officials, and so on. All this indicates that Europe needs to prepare for war. This means that when we talk about security guarantees for Ukraine, these guarantees must actually be security guarantees for Europe. One must understand that Europe is not only NATO. Europe includes other countries that also need protection. From my point of view, this shortsightedness is yet another problem — a lack of understanding of where Russia is heading and how it will behave,” the diplomat concluded.