A number of high-ranking politicians will be in Luxembourg until Monday to discuss strategies around the war in Ukraine in the context of NATO’s spring parliamentary session. Our colleagues from RTL made use of the opportunity to speak to Petro Poroshenko, president of Ukraine from 2014 to 2019, who has been advocating for his home country to join NATO as early as 2008.
During the first days of the Russian invasion, you picked up a weapon and took to the streets like thousands of Ukrainians did. What do you think the situation is like today?
“At the moment we have a positional war, there’s barely any offensive or defensive movement. Our main front is in the east. Our objective was easy: kill as many Russian orcs as possible. To draw as many Russian troops around Bakhmut as possible so that we can organise an offensive. That is why we needed a game changer. We first created a tank coalition, then an air force, then a coalition for long-rage weaponry. And I hope, I keep my fingers crossed. Now at the G7 in Hiroshima, a coalition for fighter jets. Because according to NATO standards, we need to dominate our air space.”
Do you have any specific information on Bakhmut today?
“We should trust our soldiers. And when they say they continue fighting right at the border of Bakhmut, then that is true. But the main strategy of the Ukrainian army is not only about continuing to fight at the border of Bakhmut. But continue making offensive progress so that we close in on the Russians inside Bakhmut. That will make Russians panic.”
How can this war be brought to a conclusion? Only with weapons? Or do you see a chance for peace talks? You once sat at the negotiating table with Putin in Minsk.
“The key to peace is not in the hands of Kyiv, Washington, or Brussels. Unfortunately it’s in the hands of Putin. That is why I don’t want anyone to advertise a freezing of the war. My message is this: please don’t be afraid of Putin and his allies suffering a defeat. We are standing here at the parliamentary assembly of NATO. I am proud to see the Ukrainian flag here. ... And I plead to see the Ukrainian flag at the NATO HQ in Brussels in the near future.
“All NATO member states, including Luxembourg, are currently not protected from Russian aggression by Article 5. But by a blue and yellow shield of Ukrainian soldiers.”
Luxembourg is one of the administrative capitals of the European Union. What do you expect from the EU, in light of the Euormaidan protests?
“That was the major confirmation that the values of the Ukrainian people are European ones. And we are even ready to give our life for Europe. That is why I am proud that my signature is below the association agreement with the European Union. With a strong trade agreement. Visa freedom. Changes in the Ukrainian constitution in light of an EU and NATO admission. For us it is extremely important to have the status of an EU candidate. And this year, 2023, before the European elections in European states, we should start conducting first EU admission talks.”
