The Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Nikolay Udovichenko, speaks on the war in eastern UkraineDo you think eastern Ukraine should be part of Russia?I think the question sounds a bit strange, since never had Russia questioned the integrity of Ukraine. Quite the opposite, we consistently advocated and supported the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. Our position did not change even after we saw a constitutionally elected government overthrown by a US-backed coup d’etat in Kiev, in February 2014.Why does Russia care so much about what happens in Ukraine?Nikolay UdovichenkoIt is not surprising that we take to heart everything that happens in Ukraine. It is well known that Ukrainian and Russian people are a single ethnic Slavs nation. Historical ties between the two nations are very close. For almost 80 years, our people lived in one state, the Soviet Union, where economic, cultural, social and family ties were fully integrated. Now we have millions of mixed families with Russians and Ukrainians living in both countries, speaking the Russian language.We can’t remain indifferent when the rights of Russian speaking people, specifically our mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and children, are rudely and shamelessly violated. Their only offence is that they did not support a nationalist coup in the country and demanded respect for their rights.As the crisis in Ukraine grows, there looms interruption of economic relations that existed between our twocountries. The problem is not only that Ukraine is a recipient of Russian gas and a transit country for Russian gas supplies to Europe, but also in close commercial ties, including industrial and aerospace complex. The conflict affects both the economy of Ukraine and Russia, on those of its strategically important sectors, which are closely related to the enterprises located on the territory of Ukraine.Recall that the south-east of Ukraine is home to large industries where transformers, various parts of motors, manufacturing and industrial equipment, etc. are being produced in cooperation with Russian companies and shipped to Russia. Today, the partnership between the two countries in these sectors is hanging.Russia has long denied military involvement in Ukraine but the passports of many Russian troops have been found in Ukraine territory. How do you explain this?Russian regular armed forces are not involved and have never been involved in the conflict in Ukraine. No wonder neither the Ukrainian officials nor NATO have been able to present real evidence on that. As for all the funny fables or fake photos about the flow of Russian troops and arms, they provide them in abundance. Indeed, the show must go on. The serious institutions like the OSCE (Organisation on Security and Cooperation in Europe) saw no Russian regular military troops in Ukraine’s east.It is no secret that citizens of different countries are taking part in combat operations in the south-east of Ukraine. We, in turn, also can’t forbid Russian volunteers from going to Ukraine and protecting their relatives and families, while Ukrainian authorities use mercenaries from Great Britain, Sweden, Poland andother countries. The US has recently sent military advisers to Ukraine clearly not to engage in agriculture development.As for the Russian passports Poroshenko juggled, it again comes from the same stories, of which I spoke earlier. Besides, Russian military personnel don’t have passports, what they have is a special military ID.How hard does Putin want to go on the shelling on eastern Ukraine?Let’s look at the facts. Shortly after the violent coup, the new Kiev regime, not Russia, started using enforcement bodies and police against ethnic Russians in south-eastern Ukraine who did not agree to such a revolution and refused to accept a new order in Kiev. Using the army, the new regime tried to carry out punitive operations with heavy artillery, prohibited worldwide weapons, such as cluster munitions, against residential areas and settlements.Self-defence forces in Ukraine’s east were forced to defend themselves and responded by fighting. So I can’t accept your question. Russia is the least of all that would like to see military action in a neighboring friendly Ukraine, because it is a direct threat to our national security. You should look for those who benefitfrom it.Is Russia affected by the sanctions imposed by the US and its allies?Of course, sanctions imposed on Russia in violation of international law are not very helpful but they will not achieve their goals. At the same time we see a positive side of that. Russia had focused too much on the European market and integration with it, the sanctions have forced us to further develop domestic production, strengthen relations with other parts of the world such as Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Besides, all sanctions have a boomerang effect hitting the economy of the initiators. Whatever they say, businesses in Europe suffer losses.What’s going on, on the sanctions the United States previously imposed on Russia?These sanctions are also counter-productive and affect everyone, including Russia, but Russia will emerge from this situation with an advantage. The countries that triggered the spiral of sanctions will not escape the negative effects in light of the global redistribution of economic and social power. So it’s not our problem. As I mentioned earlier, we have a good opportunity to develop our economy.I want to emphasize another important point. It’s necessary to clearly understand that Russia has emerged as a sovereign country pursuing an independent, assertive foreign policy designed to defend its own national interests and to ensure peace and international security as the number of conflict areas in the world is growing and it doesn’t happen by itself. These sanctions are attempts to punish Russia for its independent foreign policy, its sovereignty and its unwillingness to blindly obey the outside demands.Eastern Ukraine peace remain uncertain. When do you think solution will be found in Ukraine?Russia is interested in a speedy resolution of the conflict in Ukraine more than any other country. We are convinced that the Kiev government is not able to resolve the conflict by military means.We do want the Ukrainian people to restore their unity but it should be done on the basis of real nationwidedialogue. Moscow is consistently and patiently calling for the start of direct talks between Kiev and Donetsk and Lugansk on practical steps to restore the common economic, social and political space withinthe territorial integrity of Ukraine. The Kiev government should learn to listen and talk to the people in the eastern part of Ukraine. This is the only way to find a really long-lasting solution to the conflict.Is Russia ready for peace talk?We are not just ready, but unlike many partners, we are doing everything possible to scale down tensions and to achieve a political settlement in Ukraine. We firmly believe that there is no alternative to an exclusively peaceful settlement. Given the acute crisis in south-east Ukraine, only the people of Ukraine without any foreign interference must determine their future. Direct contact between Kiev and the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics are of fundamental importance in this context.All other formats involving external players, including the Normandy and many other formats, as well as the OSCE activities, must be aimed at assisting a direct and sustainable dialogue on issues that need to be resolved to settle the crisis. On its part, Russia will continue to assist the creation of favourable conditions to settle Ukraine’s formidable problems in this spirit.We also want the EU and the US to increase their influence on Kiev and to urge the new regime to speak with its citizens as they have done in other conflicts like in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan where they called for dialogue with the opposition forces, part of which consisted of very radical groups. Now we are disappointed to see a totally different approach to everything that concerns the crisis in Ukraine’s east.
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