Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a sovereign state, while possessing nuclear weapons poses a threat not only to Ukraine but to the entire European continent and ultimately to the entire world, according to former president of the European Council Charles Michel.

“Europe is facing its greatest danger since World War II, but this will also serve as an opportunity for the us to emerge stronger,” Michel said in an exclusive interview with Maeil Business Newspaper ahead of his participation at the 26th World Knowledge Forum (WKF). “We can overcome the crisis by expanding the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and investing in energy infrastructure.”

Hosted by South Korea’s Maekyung Media Group, the WKF is the largest business forum in Asia and will take place from Tuesday to Thursday in central Seoul.

The former European Council president also dismissed Moscow’s justification of its ongoing war.

“It is now year three since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and while it uses NATO enlargement and the seizure of Russian assets in Europe as excuses, these are false claims spread by the Kremlin,” he noted. “The world must recognize the gravity of this situation.”

He also underscored the importance of deepening cooperation between Europe and Korea.

“The two sides must now advance into cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) and the digital sphere beyond defense and energy,” he said. “Leveraging the opportunities AI offers, while protecting data and preserving human dignity, is a challenge that Europe and Korea must tackle together.”

Michel will deliver a lecture on Thursday alongside French Institute of International Relations (IFRI) President Thierry de Montbrial under the theme “Europe at a Crossroads: The Road to Revival.”

Born in 1975, Michel became Belgium’s prime minister in 2014 at the age of 38, serving for five years as one of Europe’s youngest political leaders. He then served as president of the European Council from 2019 to 2024, where he acted as a key mediator for Europe.

The 26th WKF, whose theme is “New Odyssey: Navigating the Great Transition” will open on Tuesday with a keynote address by former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

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