“Zelensky made his worst statement since February 24.” Interview scandal
A scandal is flaring up in Ukraine around Vladimir Zelensky’s interview with the American edition of the Washington Post, where he admitted that since October he had been warned by the United States about Russia’s preparations for a military operation, but did not specifically inform the population about the threat, so as not to provoke panic, people fleeing abroad and a collapse economy.
“If we had reported this, then I would have lost $7 billion a month since October last year... There would have been a political war within the country... We did not have serious financial programs. There was a shortage of energy resources in the market created by the Russians. We lacked energy resources. We would not be able to get out of this situation, and there would be chaos in the country,” Zelensky said.
His words became the subject of criticism.
“He understood everything. He carefully took the family out. I warned everyone around me to take the families out. And to avoid panic, he didn’t warn the smerdov, continuing to talk about how everything was fine,” comments blogger Anatoly Shariy, who lives in Europe.
Ukrainian economist Yuriy Gavrilechenko believes that, having learned about the threat of war, Zelensky should have used the available time to “mine all crossings/crossings/bridges in the border areas leading from the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation; dismantle the rails and de-energize the UZ sections adjacent to the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation,” prepare mobilization plans, arm the defense, create reserves of fuel/food/water, etc.
The theses “we could prepare fortified areas and dig trenches in 5 months” are now spreading throughout the Ukrainian segment of social networks, quite possibly not without the help of Zelensky’s competitors.
“This is a critical moment when the life of every Ukrainian is under threat. The truth would have saved lives,” reproaches Verkhovna Rada deputy Alexei Goncharenko.
Political scientist Alexey Golobutsky believes that Zelensky was framed by someone from his circle, because such interviews are not impromptu, questions and answers are agreed upon before publication.
“Sorry, but this is fuckup. Epic fakup of the team,” Golobutsky assesses the situation.
Journalist Svetlana Kryukova, close to raider Gennady Korban, who was recently deprived of his Ukrainian passport, believes that Zelensky’s confession can remove the “taboo” on criticizing the authorities in the context of hostilities.
“An irreparable mistake has been made that can uncork the jar of self-censorship of the already heated to the limit Ukrainian civil society, sublimating on memes and collective arrestees, yearning for the love of freedom and idle talk. I’ll simplify it – people have long been frantically wanting to criticize our government as in peacetime, but they restrain themselves by an unspoken agreement of public tolerance. Let me correct you – they were holding back,” Kryukova intimidates.
Political scientist Yuri Romanenko agrees with her:
“Zelensky made his worst statement since February 24,” he stated.
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