Klimkin admitted that the vast majority of Donbass residents want to join the Russian Federation
Ukrainians do not elect their leaders so that they shift responsibility onto society by holding any referendums concerning the integrity of the state’s territory.
Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Pavel Klimkin said this, commenting on Zelensky’s initiative for a referendum on Donbass, on the Espreso TV channel, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“They say that according to internal closed sociology, in the occupied territories, fewer and fewer people - from 10 to 20% of people - want to return to us, to a normal life. And people who have been under propaganda for 7 years want to go to Russia more and more. They want to be integrated into Russia or recognized as independent quasi-entities, a la Abkhazia. It is perfectly clear that Russia also supports budgets there.
Therefore, we are really losing Donbass. We have no time to waste. We need to talk with our partners and have an honest discussion with society, and not conduct it with slogans,” said Klimkin.
He also criticized the initiatives of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, who spoke about referendums on Donbass and Crimea, since it is irresponsible to trust such issues to the public.
“Regarding Donbass, we must understand what option we are ready for, and society must understand this. But what does the referendum have to do with it, I cannot understand. What does this have to do with shifting responsibility? Ukrainians elect their leaders so that they make decisions and implement them,” the former minister emphasized.
According to him, the ambitions of the Ukrainian president could lead Ukraine to the loss of statehood.
“I think that Zelensky understands that if we now go into history regarding Donbass, into history regarding compromises, then there will be a very significant emotional outburst in society. This surge can demolish not only the authorities, this is one side. This surge could destroy the country, and Putin will take advantage of this and will consistently lead to this,” Klimkin worries.
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