By Janet Ekstract
ISTANBUL – In a press conference at Mariinsky Palace in Kyiv, Boris Johnson and Volodymyr Zelensky held a press conference late Tuesday on the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Johnson was adamant in his support for Ukraine and assisting Ukrainian President Zelensky. As Johnson commented: “It is vital that Russia steps back and chooses a path of diplomacy.” Johnson added that the UK is ready to talk with Russia but he made it known that the UK is a “firm and enduring ally” of Ukraine as well as a “supporter of Ukraine’s sovereignty.” The UK prime minister said that Russia’s amassing of troops on Ukraine’s border is “the worst example of hostility” that anyone has seen in centuries. Johnson said: “If our friends and allies are in trouble, it’s absolutely vital that the UK should step up now.” Johnson said the UK is giving 88 million pounds to Ukraine to boost its energy infrastructure and for what Johnson deemed as “good governance,” he said, so they can be more independent. Johnson added that the UK already sent 2,000 anti-tank units to support Ukraine’s defense needs.
On exactly what steps the UK is taking against Russia, Johnson told the press that his government is in the process of “preparing a package of economic sanctions.” He said the sanctions have been “intensified” and that the new legislation will allow the UK government to pinpoint Russia’s strategic commercial interests and individual commercial interests. Though Johnson remarked: “The minute there is a further incursion into Ukraine, those sanctions will apply,” but Zelensky said that “preventive” action needs to happen. He commented: “Preventive sanctions, they would work if they are introduced prior to escalation. Let’s introduce them first and then we’ll see.”
Zelensky spoke to comments from the press, referring to his “underestimating the Russian threat.” The Ukrainian president said: “No one can know what will happen next.” He explained that Ukraine for a very long time shared with its “neighbors,” joint business relations, a joint history and even joint family relations. Zelensky said: “But we don’t have it now. We have to be powerful as a country and have a powerful army and count on ourselves. We have to be prepared for bad things. We are open to new unions and alliances but we don’t know when that will happen.” Zelensky added: “That is a very big risk for Ukraine. We are defending ourselves and we are defending our country and I think it is only fair. And we are protecting our culture and our history. There will be a high risk for anyone who will try to occupy Ukraine. Everyone saw what happened with Donbas. Ukrainians saw what could happen and this is why they will stand until the very end. Ukrainians are training normal citizens for fighting back. Russia should listen to us.”
When Zelensky was asked about whether it was possible to have a fully-fledged Minsk Agreement, he commented: “I know for sure who should be implementing the Minsk Agreement. We are being very dutiful and responsible regarding this. We understand what these agreements are and created by the Normandy format and the Normandy format is the only one that works, that allows advisers of countries to meet.” The Ukrainian president acknowledged that “we cannot always get a result” but said that because of the Normandy Pact that “the degree of casualty and death has been reduced.” Zelensky added: “We are working and fighting for something. We call upon the countries of Normandy Pact to meet.” He said that Ukraine “on a daily basis” is doing all it takes to bring about a peaceful resolution. Zelensky concluded: “We are adult men, we need to do something that can deoccupy our territories. Something that at least protects our country.” He also said: “We are doing a lot of negotiations of bilateral contacts with the Russian Federation and no one is complaining and we will still win in this case.”
Meanwhile, Johnson said he will be talking to Putin on Wednesday and gave a word of caution. “This is a clear and present danger – we see preparations for all kinds of operations that are consistent with an overt military campaign. This is about something even bigger. It’s about the whole European security architecture. I think Putin is trying to get the EU to change the way we look at security by intimidating Ukraine.” Johnson added: “What is happening now, Russia is trying to undermine Minsk gains and to impose a new sense of influence. It would not just be Ukraine drawn into Russian sphere of influence, it would be Georgia, Moldova…. “ Our view is that time is urgent and this is something that needs to be addressed now.” Zelensky echoed Johnson’s remarks when he commented: “Our country has changed since our army is different and the occupation of a city or a territory will not happen. Unfortunately, there will be a tragedy if our state is attacked. This is not going to be a war of Ukraine or Russia – this will be a war of Europe. It will be a full-fledged war because no one is going to give away any territory anymore.” As Johnson reiterated more than once during the press conference in Ukraine: “A further invasion of Ukraine by Russia would be a humanitarian disaster, a political disaster and a military disaster.”
