Ukraine, former Prime Minister Yatseniuk: “Europe changed its mind about Putin late”

Europe changed its mind about Vladimir Putin’s policy late, and this is one of the causes that have brought the conflict between Russia and Ukraine to this point. This was stated, in an exclusive interview with Adnkronos, by the former prime minister of Ukraine Arseny Yasteniuk, who headed the executive from 2014 to 2016. “Italy – explains Yatsenyuk – is a shining example: Berlusconi he was Putin’s closest friend, the whole world knew they were close friends, and he made Italy a friend of both Putin and Russia by adopting a state policy of bringing Italy closer to Russia. The same thing happened in several countries of the European Union, for example Germany and France “. Read also Since February 24, European countries have changed their policy, and “even Putin’s friend, Berlusconi, has condemned Putin”, explains Yatseniuk, who became Prime Minister of Ukraine in 2014 just 33 years after the Euromaidan revolution . Nothing to say instead “about your new Prime Minister, Mario Draghi, who is taking the right steps to free Italy from Russian dependence on gas”. But this ‘belated’ understanding had “a high price, which Ukraine and Ukrainians are paying today. If Ukraine had received the Action Plan for NATO membership in 2008 and I, as Prime Minister, had signed the petition , today there would be no war “, urges the former chief executive of Ukraine. On the entry of Ukraine into NATO, he adds:” It is well known that in 2008 Germany and France blocked the decision to provide Ukraine has an action plan to join NATO. The explanation of those who said no, then, was ‘there is no use to make Russia nervous’. But Russia “has read this differently -explains Yatseniuk- That is: the the west is weak and Putin can do whatever he wants because the west will not react. And so he attacked Georgia and Ukraine “. What they did not understand, the former prime minister clearly says,” is that Putin does not play by the rules, Putin plays ‘with’ the rules. ” for Yatseniuk it is the central fulcrum even now: “NATO today understood that there will be no security in member countries as long as there is no security in Ukraine.” The former prime minister does not deny that the country must comply with the criteria established for membership . “There is no discussion about this. We have to adapt to democratic, political, economic, and anti-corruption criteria. But we have made unimaginable progress since 2014. My government has made the largest amount of unpopular reforms among the citizens and as a result I have had to resign losing my popularity, but the country has gained points in the world ratings. “In the conditions current, however, “the decision must not be formal or legal of adequacy to 100 or 200 criteria, but must be geopolitical and moral, and both speak in favor of the need to bring Ukraine into the EU and NATO. “What do you foresee will happen now?” I wear glasses, but as you can see I’m not pink-says Yatseniuk- Russia has not achieved the goals it had set itself at the beginning of the war, Putin’s Nazi blitzkrieg it failed. “Now, therefore,” Putin will concentrate all his forces in order to achieve at least some victories. He is launching all the forces and means to begin the offensive in Donbass. Because for him this is not just a matter of his political career, but of his own survival in Russia. “This month” will be very difficult. The Ukrainian army has shown the whole world that it is capable of fighting for its country, but we need weapons for the offensive and to defend ourselves. And I do not stop addressing all the free countries of the world, and I am grateful that the weapons are coming “. In Italy there is a lot of discussion about the presence of Nazi forces inside the country.” This is a big lie – explains Yatseniuk- Look at the results of all the Ukrainian elections, and compare them with the results of the elections of the EU member countries. We have no right-wing ultra-radicals in the national parliament. How can a country that in 2019 had two Jewish government leaders, one president and the other the prime minister, be a Nazi? There are no Nazis in Ukraine. In Ukraine there are Ukrainian patriots “.