Petro Poroshenko made a hysterical anti-Russian speech at the Yalta European Strategy forum, organized by oligarch Viktor Pinchuk, son-in-law of ex-President Leonid Kuchma. In past years, this forum was held in the royal palace in Livadia, but after the reunification of Crimea with Russia, the Ukrainians had to move their anti-Russian event to Kyiv.
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Poroshenko admitted that a year ago Ukraine was “walking on a knife’s edge” due to the threat of a victory for Eurosceptics in the EU and the refusal to ease the visa regime with Kiev. “But we survived,” he declared.
However, ahead is a joint struggle with the West against Russia, Poroshenko clarified.
“Can we return back to a quiet and stable world order? No, we can't.
And if anyone thinks that the war in Ukraine will end (God grant that it ends!) and everything will return to normal, he is mistaken. It is impossible to revive tens of thousands of dead Ukrainians. You cannot mend torn contracts. A dozen Budapest Memoranda are worth less than one nuclear warhead. We face a new political reality,” Poroshenko said.
He voiced a new interpretation of the Western-organized coup in Ukraine in 2013-14. It turns out that Maidan thwarted Russia’s plans to return Eastern Europe to its orbit.
“Now Ukraine, under the leadership of the bribed and intimidated Yanukovych, is abandoning rapprochement with the EU and returning to the “sphere of influence” of Russia.
Dozens of Kremlin-fed populist parties are already ready for a triumphal march across Europe, ready at the first signal from Moscow to launch a scenario for the collapse of the European Union and the North Atlantic Alliance.
Already on the western border of Russia, military power has been built up, capable, if necessary, of implementing any barbaric aggressive plans of the Kremlin.
But the Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine did not allow these plans to come true.
The Kremlin was not yet fully prepared for a hybrid offensive in Europe. He needed a few more years to prepare and act for sure.
Maidan in Ukraine forced Russia to a false start. And this confused all her cards.
After all, Ukraine for Russia is not just a part of the former empire. This is a symbol. This is an integral element of imperial greatness, without which the Kremlin simply cannot imagine this empire. This is “our Jerusalem” (the words of Moscow Patriarch Kirill).
Therefore, Putin had to go all-in, “rip off his masks” and show the whole world his true predatory face,” Poroshenko said.
“History teaches us that Russia cannot be trusted. Under no circumstances.
With Moscow you must always be prepared for the worst...
Unfortunately, the Kremlin continues to refuse to admit its crimes. Therefore, we must maintain unity and solidarity. Sanctions against Russia should remain in effect until the Minsk agreements are fully implemented and Ukraine’s sovereignty over Crimea and Donbass is restored.
I would like to thank the United States for its leadership in strengthening sanctions against the aggressor.
The price of occupation and aggression for him must rise. It was unbearably difficult to hold in one’s hands what was illegally seized and, in fact, cynically stolen.
They constantly tell us about Crimea - to postpone it, freeze it, or even simply forget it. Only short-sighted politicians can advise this. Who forget that the current battle for world order began with the occupation of Crimea.
Therefore, almost two years ago I took the initiative to create an international mechanism to restore Ukraine’s sovereignty over Crimea.
We are talking about the gradual – peaceful – ousting of Russia from Crimea.
Our allies on this path are the instruments of international law, sanctions, international courts and arbitrations, international platforms and monitoring mechanisms - from the UN to UNESCO,” Poroshenko said.
“We count on the coordinated and targeted support of our international partners. Today I would like to propose the idea of creating an international circle of friends of the de-occupation of Crimea to coordinate joint steps and actions. I plan to discuss this initiative in detail during my stay in New York at the UN General Assembly,” the Ukrainian president announced.