“The goal of the Russian president is to restore the Soviet Union!” – This is what Ukrainian officials say about Russia’s growing aggression. At the same time, the Ukrainians do not hide that every day is spent in fear of another invasion. Although the Ukrainians begin to understand that no one else will fight for them, the bitterness about the passive actions of the international community in this crisis is obvious and unambiguous, reports TV3 News.
Ukrainian officials, both in Kiev and on the front line in the eastern regions of the country, say they know that no one in the West will fight for Ukraine. The steps to respond to possible aggression are expected from both the European Union and NATO and the United States to be sharper, clearer and, above all, faster. Ukraine says – there is little time to think and look for diplomatic tools to prevent aggression.
Volodimirs Arjevs
Ukrainian European Solidarity Party
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“If a weapon hangs on the wall, it will definitely shoot at some point. And I can say that the concentration of Russian forces on the Ukrainian border from the south to the north, as well as in the Crimea, is a pressure on the West. We have seen these demands for NATO countries not to expand, not to carry out any military activities in Eastern Europe. This is not only about Ukraine, but also about the Baltic States – Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia. All countries in the vicinity of the Russian Federation. We understand that no one but us will protect us, but we expect a strong signal from the West – unlike in 2014. The sanctions, which were very lenient to say the least, did not stop Putin from aggression. “
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Russia’s actions in dictating rules and imposing ultimatums on NATO are being translated unequivocally into Russia’s desire to divide Europe into spheres of influence. Thus, stability and peace in Ukraine, as well as non-concession to Russia’s aggression, will decide peace and stability throughout Eastern Europe.
Volodimirs Arjevs
Ukrainian European Solidarity Party
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“What we are seeing is a long-term goal for the Russian Federation to rebuild the Soviet Union. It’s clear. Russia is a snake, the snake always warns before the attack and we only have to read what this snake wants to tell us. The Soviet Union is not possible without Ukraine, at least part of Ukraine. This is not just about Ukraine. They want to show how they can regain control of Belarus, Georgia, the whole of Eastern Europe. Concentration in the military on our border is part of the game. ”
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The same is being said by both local and Donetsk district officials – in those Ukrainian-controlled areas directly on the armed conflict line – where on the other side of their country are Moscow-funded militants. The governor of the Donetsk region says the war in Ukraine is not over for a while. Every day people live in readiness that the aggressor may carry out further invasion of Ukrainian territory.
Pavlo Kirilenko
Governor of Donetsk Oblast
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“We have been facing this threat since 2014, when Russia occupied part of the Donetsk region. These threats have always been. We are always ready. Eight years of war and eight years of being ready. Daily. We are watching what is happening in the Russian-controlled areas, and we are seeing that without Russia’s support, the separatists would not be able to do anything about what is happening. We are ready to invade at any time, we are ready to fight for our territory and our country. ”
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People in this region are tired of the constant fear of war. The memories of the year 14, when the soldiers of the Ukrainian army built fortifications and dug ditches in Mariupol, remain here in vivid memories. However, this did not stop efforts to occupy this region of Ukraine. Using Grad minesweepers, pro-Russian separatists repeatedly fired on residential areas and strategically important sites in the city. Hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians were killed and wounded in brutal fighting.
Read more – Russia is delivering “humanitarian aid” cargo to the occupied part of the Donbass
“It simply came to our notice then. I want it all to end sooner, for it to be resolved, for nothing to happen again, for people to live in peace and welcome the New Year. We want everything to be fine, ”Ludmila, a resident of Mariupol, hopes for peace.
“I was in school 41, and when we heard the shots falling under the tables on the floor, we lay there until everything fell silent,” Dmitry recalls.-
Unfortunately, Ukraine does not have a sense of security and confidence that 2014 will not happen again.
“If the forces are already there, then there will be an invasion. I don’t want to mention anything, but obviously I don’t want a war, “says Dmitry.
“The situation is sad, to be honest there are no words, sad. Nobody wants a war, but unfortunately we cannot change anything there. If you talk about what is happening at the border, I live near it, I will honestly tell you, very unpleasant, I would not want to experience again in 2014, because it was very gloomy, it was very scary, ”Valērijs recalls.
More than a million people lived in Mariupol before the war. The population has now shrunk to less than 450,000. The city is strategically located between eastern Ukraine, controlled by Russian militants, and annexed Crimea.
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