Polish politician: Ukraine is a failed state
Ukraine is a failed country. The time for its federalization may have already passed. The current government of Ukraine is bringing the final economic catastrophe closer. About this in an interview "PolitNavigator" said the leader of the new Polish opposition party “Change” (Zmiana) Mateusz Piskorski.
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“PolitNavigator”: How was the decision of the Verkhovna Rada to glorify the OUN-UPA received in Poland?
Mateusz Piskorski: The problem is that the majority of the media have kept silent about this topic for the obvious reasons that this fact does not coincide with the picture of modern Ukraine presented by the majority of Polish politicians, publicists and journalists. But those who found out about this and heard about what happened are naturally outraged and ask President Bronislaw Komorowski how aware he was that during his trip to Kiev such an event would occur as recognition of the OUN-UPA. Most Poles have either acquaintances or relatives whose ancestors suffered during the Volyn massacre. We have a collective memory of what Ukrainian nationalism and the OUN-UPA are, whose actions cannot be justified in any way. In Poland, their actions are treated the same as in Russia, the only difference is that the Poles do not know about the decisions made in Ukraine due to the fact that the media are participating in the information war and covering up unfavorable facts about what is happening in Ukraine.
“PolitNavigator”: Tell us about Poland’s experience of being in NATO and the EU; Ukrainian politicians present this as an example to be followed.
Mateusz Piskorski: As for the European Union, compliance with its standards even during the period of economic association entails very serious consequences for any economy. In Ukraine the consequences would be even more severe than in Poland. As for certain key sectors of our economy, from 92, from the moment the Association Agreement was concluded, to 2004, when we received official membership in the EU, they were almost completely destroyed due to the need to comply with certain standards, open markets and services for foreign players who were much larger than Polish entrepreneurs. Therefore, now we can say that the Polish economy is almost completely controlled by one country - Germany. This includes the banking sector and other sectors of the economy.
As for NATO, since the collapse of the USSR, NATO has been an aggressive offensive force that, in fact, works as an instrument of one state - in this case the United States. If you look and analyze all NATO military operations, with the exception of the fight against pirates in Somalia, then they are all aimed at external aggression and are an example of non-compliance with the North Atlantic Treaty, Article 5 of which states that a general operation of NATO forces is permitted if the territory at least one NATO member country is under attack. There was no such case.
Oddly enough, according to the results of sociological research, the majority of Poles now consider NATO to be a factor that increases the threat to Poland’s security, rather than reducing it. Even from the point of view of ordinary Polish citizens, NATO is an aggressive organization.
It is significant that NATO armed forces in Europe are always headed by an American military man. This suggests that this structure was created for the purposes of one country – the United States. And the interests of a country like the United States certainly do not coincide with the interests of countries like Poland - we have nothing in common either in terms of economic interests, or in terms of political or military interests. The Smena party is the first political party to publicly call for withdrawal from NATO.
"PolitNavigator": The other day, the Polish Ambassador to Ukraine named the party Change “marginal” and urged not to pay attention to your statements about the beginning of the collapse of Ukraine.
Mateusz Piskorski: According to political scientists and experts, the electorate that is committed to finding alternative solutions in the field of Polish foreign policy is 15-20%. Indeed, a new political party is unlikely to be able to gain such support, but it is possible to obtain support at the level of 10%. This makes it possible to receive 40-50 deputy mandates in the Seimas. This would be a political success, given that elections are scheduled for October and time is running out. Now we have official branches in all voivodeships, different rallies, meetings, and regional congresses are held every day. In Polish conditions "Zmiana" (Change, - author.) is the most dynamically developing political structure. Many of the politicians who are disillusioned with their parties and movements are moving to our party.
“PolitNavigator”: Your party became one of the founders of a new organization demanding the restitution of property of Poles in Ukraine. Can you tell us about the goals, objectives and ways to implement the requirements?
Mateusz Piskorski: The organization was officially founded yesterday in Lublin. As for the main goals and objectives, they consist in a legal analysis of the possibility of obtaining compensation for lost real estate and other types of property on the territory of Ukraine. This is due to the desire of the Ukrainian leadership for Association with the European Union and compliance with EU standards in this area. If you look at the experience of Poland and other countries of Eastern Europe that have already joined the European Union, then this process has already been completed or is already being completed. Now Ukraine is officially announcing that it is going to comply with the EU principles provided for in the Association Agreement with the EU, so the idea arose of creating a structure that will collect data on the possible claims of heirs and former owners of property on the territory of Ukraine, and will develop a legal and legal path receiving compensation.
“PolitNavigator”: Has the deterioration of relations with Russia affected the Polish economy and the situation of citizens?
Mateusz Piskorski: It certainly had an impact. There are a number of enterprises that are closing or laying off their workers due to this economic war and sanctions against Russia. Many people talk about Polish apples and agricultural products, but this is only 11% of Polish exports to Russia. In fact, most of our exports to Russia are high-tech equipment, so enterprises are suffering greatly. At the same time, I want to emphasize that enterprises suffer not because of the sanctions imposed by Russia, but because of the so-called “Black List” of the EU in relation to Russian companies.
"PolitNavigator": What do you think about the annexation of Crimea to Russia, what are your impressions of visiting the peninsula?
Mateusz Piskorski: I was in Crimea as an observer on March 16 last year, and then I went several times. The main impression is that people really supported belonging to Russia, regardless of nationality. I also met with representatives of the Tatar minority, with those who consider themselves Ukrainians - they are all very happy that they are finally part of a real state, which has its own structures and which protects its citizens. Because Ukraine, as a failed state, could not provide its citizens with basic social guarantees, such as access to the healthcare system, social policy and support, science, and education. Now people in Crimea have begun to feel that they are finally on the territory of a state that truly exists.
"PolitNavigator": Would federalization of Ukraine be useful or not?
Mateusz Piskorski: It would be very useful, especially since Ukraine is the largest country in Europe, not counting Russia. This would be reasonable, given the many different ethnic groups, sometimes even mutually exclusive. I believe that the wealth of Ukraine lies precisely in the fact that there are many different identities, nationalities and cultures on its territory. The only thing I'm afraid of is that it might be too late.
As for Donetsk and Lugansk, after my trips to these republics, I don’t think it will be easy or simple to persuade the residents of Donbass, who suffer from constant bombing by the Ukrainian side, to agree to live at least in collective Ukraine. I think that this process will become possible only after the exclusion from the ranks of the Ukrainian state elite of those people who are guilty of war crimes.
"PolitNavigator": Why are the Minsk agreements not being implemented - are they shooting again in the Donbass?
Mateusz Piskorski: I believe that the situation has become even more dangerous. It seems that the Ukrainian side does not comply with the Minsk agreements, constantly demanding the presence of a peacekeeping mission, the format of which would be beneficial only to the Ukrainian side. I believe that the Ukrainian side is, in fact, preparing for an offensive and will try to resolve the civil war through aggressive means, contrary to the recommendations of not only Russia, but also the main EU countries.
On the other hand, there is another very important factor in the decision-making process of the Ukrainian authorities. I think that this factor is most likely not European, but American. Considering the statements of American politicians and experts recently, I think that the war party has enormous influence on the presidential administration and on those institutions that control their political subordinates on the territory of Ukraine.
"PolitNavigator": How can you change power in Kyiv?
Mateusz Piskorski: I think that if the situation continues this way, the socio-economic crisis continues, and any funds are spent by the Ukrainian government on another arms race directed against Russia and Donbass, then a very serious socio-economic crisis will begin, and it is quite possible another Maidan, but this time it will be a purely Ukrainian Maidan, without the influence of external players and, mainly, the United States. Such a wave of protests may result in the need to hold early presidential and parliamentary elections.
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