Moscow – confirmed the head Republic of DonetskDenis Pushilin, an Russia The “special military operation” launched in… UkraineThey have no illusions about the possibility of resolving the conflict politically.
Pushilin added, in an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera Net, that what he described as the experience of dealing with the Ukrainian side revealed “the inability of the official authorities in Kiev to conclude agreements, their lack of independent decision-making, and their absolute dependence on Western countries.”
He also stressed that Russia has always been open to constructive dialogue with Ukraine, but the authorities there prefer their personal interests over the interests of the state and citizens, as he put it.
Below is the full text of the dialogue:
-
How do you evaluate the current conditions in the Republic of Donetsk, and what are your expectations for the future of the special military operation carried out by Russia this year? Will it continue, or is there still hope for a political solution?
The situation is still difficult, as the Ukrainian side is firing indiscriminate heavy-caliber weapons into residential neighborhoods on a daily basis. Civilians, including women, the elderly and children, are suffering, and more and more destruction and damage to civilian infrastructure is being recorded. This applies to both frontline and rearline areas and cities as well.
The enemy cynically and deliberately attacks workers in public utility companies and the medical field, who go out to help those wounded as a result of the bombing. This is a violation of all international legal rules of war.
For example, electricians who were carrying out maintenance work were recently shot in the city of Gorlovka, as a result of which a female electrical engineer was killed and 3 men were injured.
Emergency medical personnel who arrived to evacuate the wounded were also subjected to an additional attack, when a missile from a drone was accurately dropped on the ambulance, resulting in the death of the paramedic and the injury of 3 team members. The enemy knew that he was targeting them. This is cruelty that knows no bounds.
However, the special military operation continues. Our boss Vladimir Putin He repeatedly said that all the goals of the special operation will be achieved, and that the complete liberation of the Donetsk Republic within its administrative borders is one of the main tasks.
We need to implement a process of complete demilitarization of Ukraine and eliminate Nazi tendencies in it, because these two conditions can guarantee security for the population of Russia.
As for the possibility of resolving the conflict politically, we have no illusions in this regard. We have dealt with the Ukrainian side for many years, and we know, more than anyone else, about the complete inability of official Kiev to conclude agreements, its lack of independent decision-making and its absolute dependence, including financially, on Western countries.
A political decision requires political will, which is not currently available in Ukraine.
-
In general, is a political solution possible under the current government in Kiev or does it require a change of government?
He fell Volodymyr Zelensky A decree in 2022 stipulates the impossibility of holding negotiations with the Russian President. Recently, he publicly described the Russians as “human scum.” Isn’t this a manifestation of neo-Nazism? Such an attack by the Ukrainian president in no way leads to diplomacy.
As for Russia, it has always been open to constructive dialogue, but it is unfortunate that the Ukrainian authorities prefer their personal interests over the interests of the state and its citizens.
Would Ukraine benefit from a complete regime change and the coming to power of a sufficient number of independent leaders who meet the basic needs of society? maybe. But for this the country needs its own independent entity, and this is very difficult under the current conditions of complete lack of independence.
-
Do you think that the United States is preoccupied with the conflict in… Gaza stripTaking into account the possibility of expanding its geographical borders, what would lead to a decline in Western support for Ukraine?
The conflict in the Gaza Strip has already led to a reorientation of the media and a reduction in financial aid. But one should not be under the illusion that with the United States turning its attention towards Israel, the situation regarding supply… Kyiv With weapons or financial resources it will stop.
The West will influence the situation and will try with all its might to prolong the conflict. Consequently, the funds necessary to finance the war against Russia, which has been fomented and supported for so long, will be sought by any means.
We already see that Ukraine’s supply burden is increasingly being shifted to Europe. This is despite the fact that the population of the European Union is increasingly protesting against spending the budget in favor of Ukraine and completely ignoring their problems. After all, the military campaign in Ukraine is funded primarily from the pockets of simple Europeans.
A striking example of this is the strike of transport workers and farmers in Germany. The country’s entire transport system is paralyzed, but the German Chancellor prefers not to resolve internal issues, but rather call on other EU countries to increase spending on aid to Ukraine, similar to what Germany is doing.
It is not difficult to guess what such domestic policies might lead to: the longer funding for Ukraine lasts, the more difficult life will become for Europeans.
-
From your point of view, what are the reasons for the so-called failure of the Ukrainian “counteroffensive” and what are its consequences for the subsequent course of military operations?
Regardless of the type of weapons, including the most powerful ones, the outcome of the war is determined by how the command behaves with its soldiers: efficiently or carefully, does it protect individuals, or does it not take into account losses.
According to the recent statement of Lutsenko (former Ukrainian Interior Minister), Ukraine lost 500,000 people during the special military operation.
Everyone has heard about the multiple “meat” attacks carried out by the Ukrainian government and leadership by throwing soldiers at different axes: Artemovsk, Solidar, Marinka, Avdiivka, etc.
Ukrainian prisoners who voluntarily surrendered to our soldiers bear witness to the brutality towards them by their leaders. The countless waves of general mobilization, when men are arrested in the streets for carrying weapons, are one evidence of this.
It is not difficult to calculate the consequences of failure; The army, which suffers from low morale, becomes unable to fight even in the presence of Western missiles.
Motivating fighters is very important. Ukrainian forces are fighting for the interests of others, not for the homeland and the people. As for the Russian army, it fights for the people and against the oppression of the Russians and their rights to the mother tongue and to practice its traditions and values. Inner conviction, a sense of rightness, and an understanding of which side justice is on, is the most important ingredient for achieving results on the front.
In addition, the decisive role is played by the craft actions of our command, that is, the Russian forces, which have the largest set of knowledge and skills, and are in fact the leading army in the world in terms of training and combat experience.
-
Ukraine began to intensify the bombing of various regions of Donbas, including Donetsk. It recently affected the city of Belgorod and other regions of Russia. What steps have been taken or should be taken to prevent or reduce the recurrence of such attacks?
I have repeatedly said that it is possible to reduce or completely stop the bombing of Russian territory by Ukrainian terrorists in only one way, which is to push the enemy away from our borders so that the possibility of reaching our populated areas with any long-range weapons disappears.
Naturally, Russian troops conduct in-depth reconnaissance of the enemy’s terrain to identify firing points and movements of military equipment, air defense is actively working, an anti-battery war is being conducted, and much more. But only the enemy’s maximum distance can completely correct the situation by bombing our territory.
In this regard, I cannot fail to note the heroism of the residents of Donbass. Despite the enemy’s continuous bombing, my countrymen are working, and have not left their home areas. This steadfastness and confidence in defending our army also constitutes great support for the fighters on the front lines, and in such unity lies Russia’s strength.
