“As far as I know, the Russian-Ukrainian talks are ongoing. They are complicated. As far as I know, the parties have agreed not to publish details about their progress,” Denis Avtomonov, Ukraine’s Chargé d’Affaires in Armenia, said at a news conference on March 24.
According to the diplomat, the President of Ukraine is ready to meet with the President of Russia to talk, but keeping the “red lines” he has published because in the 21st century no one can “invade” another country to dictate its own terms. The diplomat finds it difficult to predict how long the hostilities will last, but he unequivocally believes that there is a rift in Russian-Ukrainian relations, which will be passed down from generation to generation.
“If Ukraine loses now, it will not be the defeat of Ukraine, it will be the defeat of freedom, democracy, and European values, which we strive for. Sorry for the bold words. We can not lose, Russia has already lost, we have not won yet,” said the diplomat, adding that there are risks that chemical and biological weapons will be used, but both the political and economic defeat of Russia is obvious. Speaking about the Russian president, he said that if “that man” had chosen the option of suicide, it would be preferable for him to stay in the bunker, to behave like another man in 1945 (referring to Adolf Hitler), or to commit suicide, and that one does not have to destroy the world to act.
The diplomat finds it difficult to predict further developments, but hopes that a “swan” will appear to guide the developments. Responding to the opinion that Russia is putting pressure on the EEU member states, the Ukrainian diplomat said that the Russian government offers the governments of the EEU member states to increase the value of goods that can be spent without customs duties on cross-border purchases. According to the diplomat, this proposal made by the head of the Russian government will enable the Russian population to maintain access to foreign goods, the import of which has been restricted or stopped altogether.
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According to Avtomonov, the countries that will help Russia will also find themselves under international sanctions. Speaking about the hostilities, the Ukrainian diplomat stated that the Ukrainian city of Mariupol was turned into a Russian military base in 1943 in Stalingrad, but the residents of the city continue to struggle, being under siege for several weeks. He noted that during yesterday’s hostilities, Russian troops were pushed back about 50 kilometers from Kyiv, and persistent fighting continues. In some suburbs of Kyiv, the situation is extremely unfavorable for the Russian armed forces.
The diplomat, citing the analysis of military figures, said that within a month, the strike capabilities of the Russian armed forces have decreased by 90%. He said that during street battles, Russian military units use firearms of different calibers. During the month of hostilities, 1,200 firearms were fired at Ukraine. Denis Avtonomov assures that the nuclear facilities in Ukraine are under the control of Ukraine, and what will happen next is difficult to predict.
“Armenia is a free, democratic country, and every citizen can express their position,” the Ukrainian diplomat said in Yerevan. But one thing is unclear to him: they are demonstrating in favor of a country where similar actions impose administrative fines and arrests. According to the ambassador, about 4,000 people have come to Armenia since the hostilities in Ukraine.
Nelly GRIGORYAN
