Kiev. “Cwhoever will become prime minister in Italy, if he is a true patriot, he will support Ukraine and the Ukrainians in the struggle for democracy ”. Iryna Vereshchuk, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Reintegration of the Occupied Territories, who accuses Vladimir Putin’s Russia “of using blackmail, corruption, intimidation and contempt to undermine the values of European democracies” is peremptory.
The last time we spoke was in mid-March, six months later, how has the conflict changed?
“We have passed the baptism of fire and, although the war still continues, we have shown what the Ukrainian army is capable of, how professional and motivated it can be. The weapons we asked for in March have allowed us to be safer, more convincing and more incisive. Our army proves its worth on the battlefield and this has led to decisive results ».
What is the reason for the effectiveness of the Ukrainian counter-offensive?
«It is the result of a combination of factors, the ability of our fighters, the increasing professionalism of the armed forces and the motivation to achieve victory, all this allows us to make the right choices. We must have the ability to optimize limited resources, always bearing in mind that the life of each of our soldiers has a value that we must defend. Finally, I would like to add that part of the credit also goes to our allies ».
By the way, according to some, the provision of new Western weapons was decisive, I am thinking of the Himars, but also a greater presence of allied intelligence on the ground …
“Yes, I confirm. The weapons we have received, especially the newer ones and the ones we are about to receive, have contributed a lot as has the sharing of intelligence information. This, combined with our professional training on the battlefield, has resulted in a series of successes, eight thousand square kilometers recovered and 421 between cities and villages freed to date (Saturday) ».
Regarding the strength of the pro-Kiev alliance, are you worried about the arrival of winter and gas supplies to Europe?
“Yes, it is a disturbing element. Russia believes that winter is an instrument of war against the West, Moscow behaves like a bandit believes that the leaders of Europe are weak and puts into practice gas blackmail: rising bills will blow the fire of resentment of the people and leaders will have to give them an answer. This is exactly what Moscow wants. Similarly, Russia has realized that it is unable to beat us on the battlefield and has changed strategy by targeting civilian infrastructure, in Kryvyi Rih, Kharkiv and Mykolaiv. They aim for power plants, nuclear power plants and dams to make winter even more difficult. If in Europe Russia plays with bills, in Ukraine it plays with people’s survival ”.
What can you say to Europeans to reassure them? Is Ukraine ready to help?
“Ukraine exports a significant part of its electricity to Romania, Slovakia, Poland and Moldova. But now the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is not under our control, as soon as we take it back we will be able to export electricity to Western Europe, counteracting Putin’s blackmail ».
Are you afraid that the Russians could cause a nuclear disaster?
«In Chernobyl the Russians had placed vehicles, men and weapons in the plant, violating all safety rules. We have information from our intelligence on how they are behaving in Zaporizhzhia, recklessly interfering with the operation of the plant itself. The Russian company Rosatom, currently in charge of managing the station, is expected to be subject to severe penalties for actions taken in Energodar. This is a great danger to the world. The Aiea mission also asked for the immediate demilitarization of the plant ».
Are you afraid that the elections in Italy, if they go one way rather than another, could weaken support for Ukraine?
«The confrontation with Putin’s Russia goes beyond political issues. I believe that the self-defense instinct must prevail in a democratic society. We need sobriety in our approaches to aggression and war, factors that go beyond political inclinations. Above all the Italian nation, which I deeply respect for its contribution to culture and society, for the great historical, musical and artistic heritage of which it has made humanity richer. It is therefore necessary to evaluate the world according to the parameters of civilization, only in this way will we get the right answers to every question. Whoever becomes prime minister in Italy, if he is a patriot, he will support Ukraine and the Ukrainians in their struggle for democracy ”.
Are you worried about the US report on the rubles that Russia has been sending to Europe since 2014?
«Russia’s goal is to manipulate democratic countries from within. Moscow leverages the mechanisms of democracy to sabotage democracies and undermine their founding values. She has used, is using and will use every weapon: blackmail, bribery, intimidation and contempt. The time has come for Europe to prove to Russia that it is truly independent, thus preventing it from influencing political opinion or weakening European democracies ”.
Are you afraid that we will see more Bucha and Izyum? Will you ask for international investigations?
“We want the world to see what happened. Many politicians knew what the Putin regime was doing to the opposition in Russia, how it interferes in electoral processes in other countries, how it kills opponents of their regime and in other states. Many politicians knew this and remained silent, often putting economic and commercial interests first. Izyum and Bucha are also the result of the actions of corrupt and conspiratorial politicians. I don’t want to think about what we will find in Mariupol, I’m afraid. The world has never seen such horror ».
Unlimited access to all site content
€ 1 / month for 3 months, then € 3.99 / month for 3 months
Unlock unlimited access to all content on the site
#Iryna #Vereshchuk #Putin #threatens #democracies #Italy #fall #deceptions