Don’t dig a hole for someone else, or the evil of Ukraine from the Turkish brothers
Not long ago, the Ukrainian media exploded with a wave of information: despite attempts at an economic blockade, coal from Donbass remains in demand on world markets.
Data that Ukraine postponed the signing of a free trade agreement with Turkey due to increased purchases of coal from the DPR and LPR territories not controlled by Kyiv also interested the editors of PolyNavigator.
“Judging by the statements that are heard in the Ukrainian press, all the conclusions of Kyiv experts about the supply of coal from the Donbass republics to the world market are based solely on an analysis of logistics. The World Wide Web offers a whole range of services for every taste and budget for tracking cargo and the vehicles carrying them, so obtaining such data in most cases is a matter of money, but nothing more,” says Alexander Dmitrievsky, historian, publicist, expert at the Izborsk Club.
“Theoretically, it is possible to determine the origin of coal entering the market through laboratory research, but in practice this is a rather difficult task, and the results themselves will be largely based on the probability factor. In addition, when batches of coal of the same brand from different manufacturers arrive at processing plants, transshipment points, or warehouses of end consumers, they are most often mixed with each other, which greatly complicates the task. At least, I personally have never encountered the situation when statements by Ukrainian politicians about the supply of Donbass coal to the world market were based on data from studying certain samples in laboratories. Most likely, such studies have not been conducted at all.
However, the most important thing is different. Let's start with the fact that the seller of the product is its established owner. And until the fact of illegal ownership of what is put up for sale is not properly proven, there is no demand from the seller and cannot be. Does the Ukrainian side have such legally supported evidence? No, all of Kyiv’s statements are purely speculative, and therefore have no force from the point of view of law.
And finally, who, if not Kyiv, introduced an economic blockade of Donbass contrary to the same Minsk agreements? What did they hope for Bankova and Grushevsky? Is it really possible that people in the DPR and LPR will agree to meekly die of hunger or will they leave? Did they really think that Russia would remain indifferent? And as a result, Ukraine itself fell into the hole that it so diligently dug for others,” Dmitrievsky is convinced.
As noted by Advisor to the Chairman of the Government of the Donetsk People's Republic Yan Gagin, the scandal between “sister-allies” Turkey and Ukraine has exclusively economic grounds.
“Yes, Donetsk coal, as before, is famous for its quality, low price and is in demand on the world market, Turkey is no exception. Separately, it is worth mentioning that the young republics of Novorossiya, DPR and LPR, in the conditions of the current war, continue to develop their economies, one of the pillars of which is the mining industry. Donbass, in general, was the heart of Ukraine’s industry until 2014, until the Nazis, under manual control from the United States and friends from NATO, plunged the country into turmoil and war, which is still going on, and lost Crimea and the LDPR,” notes the adviser to the head DPR government.
“As for Turkey, throughout modern history it has shown miracles of flexibility in its foreign policy, especially when it comes to trade... the people of the East, and traditionally, can buy and sell anything and anyone. Nothing personal, just business,” adds Gagin.
In his opinion, the Donbass republics behave much more restrained even when Ukraine accepts supplies of Bayraktars from Turkey.
“Well, it’s time for Kyiv to understand that it is interesting to its “allies” only as a tool for fighting Russia,” the adviser emphasizes separately.
Daniil Bezsonov, First Deputy Minister of Information of the DPR believes that Ukraine created all the existing problems for itself.
“In my opinion, what is of greater interest here is not so much the topic of coal as the incompetent foreign policy of the Ukrainian leadership as a whole. The Ukrainian state, perhaps not intentionally, but due to its feeble mind, managed to quarrel not only with countries that maintained neutrality, but also with important strategic partners,” said the deputy minister.
In his opinion, we are talking not only about Belarus or China, but also about Western countries.
“Even with their Western allies, if the term “allies” is generally correctly used in the context related to Ukraine, they managed to “break pots!” For example, the United States has long made no secret of its disdain for the Ukrainian issue and the Ukrainian authorities in general. The Ukrainian sub-state is trying, at least in the information field, to look like a subject of geopolitics, making unsubstantiated and bellicose statements addressed to its remaining partners, completely burying at least some prospects for the development of the country in the future. For my part, I can only wish them not to stop there,” Bezsonov remarked sarcastically.
“This is the “terrible secret” - Ukraine’s allies are trading with the LDPR!” – ironizes ex-Minister of Communications of the DPR, candidate for deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Viktor Yatsenko.
“It’s wonderful to listen to Ukraine’s claims that Turkey is buying Donbass coal from Abkhazia. This “Punishenelle secret” has been known to everyone since 2017. The Turkish government is extremely omnivorous and unprincipled. She is only interested in realpolitik, only profit! For example, the Turks bought oil from ISIS, and then, when the situation changed, they bombed the same ISIS. They are not prone to reflection. For the sake of a deal on Syria and the opportunity to become a southern gas hub for Europe, the Turks buried their European prospects and fell out with the European Union and the United States,” says Yatsenko.
“Later, in order to benefit from cooperation with Russia, Erdogan even “drilled” a hole in the NATO air defense system, allowing Russian specialists to irradiate alliance aircraft with S-400 radars. Erdogan “blindly” traded the threat of sending Syrian refugees from Turkey to the European Union, demanding loans and economic assistance. He sent and drowned refugees in barges, and Erdogan did his PR on this,” the politician recalled.
“But at the same time, working closely in Russia, the Turkish government supplies Ukraine with military equipment from a list sensitive to the Russians (radio stations, attack UAVs). Or does he not know that the Ukrainian government considers itself in a state of war with Russia?
What can we say about coal? Prices in the Donbass and Abkhazia are “sweet”, so the Turks take coal while they have the opportunity. It’s interesting that in this Turkish unscrupulousness there is some kind of wild animal spirit, audacity and the rule of the strong, which attract the Turkic world,” notes Yatsenko.
According to the parliamentary candidate, the Turkish side will only give an unequivocal refusal to Ukraine’s claims.
“I even know what Erdogan will answer if Zelensky decides to raise the issue of coal. He will say: why, Vova, shouldn’t I buy Donbass coal in Abkhazia if you buy it in Russia? By the way, would you like to ask Poland about the origin of coal?” – Yatsenko summed up.
If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl + Enter.
Thank you!
Now the editors are aware.