"The 80th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazis is still very much worth celebrating, as it shaped European history dramatically in a very positive sense. We should not, however, forget that today again, peace is threatened. The Russian unjustified aggression against Ukraine shows us very clearly that peace should not be taken for granted."

This is what Jean-Dominique Giuliani, Chairman of the Robert Schuman Foundation (since 2000) told Albanian Daily News in an exclusive interview.

The well-known French political figure said he had always been a strong advocate for a strategically autonomous Europe. "We can only count on ourselves and this becomes even clearer today: Russia is no longer considered an economic partner, but an enemy."

He noted thar the shift away of the US from Europe has already begun a long time ago. "The United States see China as their real issue and want to deploy all of their forces into that direction. This way, however, the US is losing focus on what happens and what matters on the European continent."

According to him there will be no peace in Ukraine without Europe. "Unfortunately, we cannot count on future American actions. This is why, with the forces of the United Kingdom and other like-minded countries, Europe has to be able to act alone and support Ukraine without the help of Washington, said Jean-Dominique Giuliani in the following interview:

- In May 1945, during World War II, the Nazi forces of Germany officially surrendered, marking the end of the war. This year has marked the 80th anniversary of the Nazi collapse to Allied forces and during this week Europeans commemorated Victory Day. Please which is the significance of this event, the importance for Europeans to look back at that joint Allied triumph over Nazi Germany?

- The 80th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazis is still very much worth celebrating, as it shaped European history dramatically in a very positive sense. We should not, however, forget that today again, peace is threatened. The Russian unjustified aggression against Ukraine shows us very clearly that peace should not be taken for granted. Europeans must continue to defend their way of life and values together and with their allies. 

- Mr. Giuliani you have been active witness to many historic events following V Day on the ruins of which our today's Europe was born and developed. Could you share with ADN's readers some remarkable events which you consider as 'unforgettable'?

- The fall of the Berlin Wall is definitely one of the most remarkable events in contemporary European history. It led to the reunification of Germany, creating a new, united Europe that put an end to geographical and ideological separation. This enlargement has continued over the years, notably with the accession of ten new European states in 2004, which obliged the Union to adapt its decision-making methods and its modus operandi more generally. When it comes to deepening the European Union, an extraordinary event was the creation of the Economic and Monetary Union, launched in 1992, and the introduction of the single currency (1999) - the euro - which enabled a quantum leap in the economic integration of member states. The euro is - up until today - the most federal instrument of the European Union. These are just some examples of particularly remarkable events, but they definitely shaped Europe and its integration immensely.

- Europe must learn to behave as an autonomous power, uniting its peoples around shared values, in alliance with our major partners, but without compromise or weakness. Faced with the upheavals currently underway the worst thing would be to wait and do nothing. Mr. Giuliani the above is what you warned 10 years ago and the reality shows how much right you were. Please what could you say now recalling those warnings?

- I have always been a strong advocate for a strategically autonomous Europe. We can only count on ourselves and this becomes even clearer today: Russia is no longer considered an economic partner, but an enemy. This is what its aggressive and imperialist behaviour has taught us. Now, we are also realizing that the United States has its own interests that are no longer clearly aligned with ours. Their withdrawal from European grounds means for us that we need to ramp up our own defense and defense industries. These two developments, however, have not only begun with the Russian aggression in February 2022 and the election of Donald Trump in November 2024. Let’s remember that Russia’s war against Ukraine has already started with its illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the US’ change of focus away from Europe has its roots already in Barack Obama’s “Pivot to Asia” which started as early as 2009. Today, the situation is much more urgent than it was ten years ago. This is why I emphasize so strongly that we need to work together as Europeans and build our own defense capacity.

- The EU- US relationship has been the axis of peace and development. But the latest behavior of Trump has given a shock to this relationship. What do you think is cause of such a development and which are the perspectives?

- Like I said before, this shift away from Europe has already begun a long time ago. The United States see China as their real issue and want to deploy all of their forces into that direction. This way, however, the US is losing focus on what happens and what matters on the European continent - even though they will be affected by it if things go out of hand.

Now, Europe alone seems to embody stability, reason and the rights of the individual. With the Trump administration, the US is more and more alone because it betrays its own deepest values that the transatlantic partners had been sharing for a long time. On the bright side, the situation on the other side of the Atlantic is an opportunity for Europe to unite more than ever.

- Do you think that Trump will assist Europe in case of confrontation as a strategic ally and in the frame of NATO in case of confrontation with Russia whose threats step up?

- President Trump has proved that we cannot count on him and Europe should take his word seriously. Nevertheless, Europe does not need the United States; it has the capacity to resist and protect itself. This means, however, that the member states need to further invest into their defense, also by promoting “made in Europe” and therefore strengthening its own defense industries.

- Mr. Giuliani, does Russia aim at stepping up the war in Ukraine as Trump is trying hard to bring it to the end starting direct talks between Moscow and Kiev? In the meantime, what do you think about Trump equalizing responsibility of war both for Putin and Zelenskyy?

- Responsibility clearly lies with the aggressor - Russia - and we should be very clear about that. For us Europeans, this is evident, but the American president sometimes seems to question this point. This is probably also why Donald Trump's efforts to create peace between the two countries have not been successful so far. Ukraine will not accept any blackmailing, and there will be no end to the fighting without any guarantees. Ukraine is not ready to make any territorial concessions. Europeans understand this and their approach to bringing peace to Ukraine is therefore less spectacular.

- Could be peace in Ukraine without Europe? Standing in solidarity with the Ukrainian president and joining forces with the United Kingdom to stop Putin's war, Europeans hold the key to restoring peace on the continent. Seeing Trump's latest actions towards Ukraine and Russia do you think Washington will abandon its policy of ignoring Europe in the future?

- There will be no peace in Ukraine without Europe. Unfortunately, we cannot count on future American actions. This is why, with the forces of the United Kingdom and other like-minded countries, Europe has to be able to act alone and support Ukraine without the help of Washington.

- Russian aggression against Ukraine accompanied with threats against EU, Gaza war, Lebanon, Syria, tension in the Western Balkans (Vucic has again defied Brussels taking part in Russian celebrities), armed conflict between India and Pakistan, local wars in Africa, the US threatening Greenland etc., are evidence that winds of war blow across the world like never before XXII war. Mr. President which is your assessment of such a situation and do you think a new international order is immediate with the UN as the pillar?

- The European Union has demonstrated in the past its ability to guarantee peace - it is the most successful guarantor of peace on its own territory that has ever existed so far. Therefore, in today’s changing international order, we must build upon this success. It is now up to Europe to take the initiative in calling the world to its senses. It must stop worrying primarily about itself, and take to the world a message of hope, based on what it has achieved. It's a message of peace, based not on complacency or weakness, but on the strength of deterrence, commitment and, of course, cooperation. It should advocate an open world, taking into account the new powers and the development that irrigates all continents, and organize planetary governance, at the UN for example, by integrating the States that must participate.

- To close which is your message to the European people and especially the youth today which should have been a day of peace across the world?

-Young Europeans, who have known nothing but peace, will have to fight many battles in the future to defend European values. As we have seen, the world order is changing, and the seriousness of the international situation should not be underestimated. While we have often taken peace for granted, war is just around the corner. We need to stand together, united and true to ourselves, to continue building our freedom and protecting our democracies.