Batshit Ukrainian Diplomacy
Belarusian opposition briefs FM Kuleba
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba blurted out in an interview published on September 8, 2020 that he wanted to hear the position of the Belarusian opposition on the development future Ukraine-Belarus relations, about Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, annexation of Crimea, Russia’s war in Donbas, etc.
As if he did not know already.
Andrei Sannikov obliged on September 11.
ANSWER TO MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF UKRAINE D. KULEBA
Recently, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, whom I respect, publicly asked about the attitude of the Belarusian opposition to Ukraine, Russian aggression, illegal occupation of Ukrainian territories and annexation of Crimea.
The question, I think, is rhetorical, but if you need an answer, then here it is:
The Belarusian opposition unconditionally supports the territorial integrity of Ukraine, condemns Russian aggression, does not recognize the annexation of Crimea and considers it Ukrainian.
If someone says otherwise, then this is not the opposition and not Belarusian.
Moreover, on some issues we take an even more principled position than the Ukrainian authorities, for example, on the Minsk talks. It was obvious to us from the very beginning that negotiations for peace conducted on the territory of the murderer (Alexander Lukashenko) were doomed to failure, and that to continue them now is a crime.
I, in turn, also have questions to the foreign ministry of Ukraine, the state on which the future of our region largely depends:
Why are you ashamed to support the democratic forces of Belarus? Why do you declare your adherence to the ideals of democracy only to your Western partners, while in Belarus you are dealing primarily with the regime? The regime that supports the annexation of Crimea, promotes war in eastern Ukraine, conducts maneuvers that threaten international peace on the territory of Belarus and has long had no legitimacy.
Why has the foreign ministry of Ukraine been so shy about meeting with the Belarusian opposition recently, to demonstrate adherence to the principles of democracy?
Previously it was different. For example, one of my first meetings, as a representative of the “shadow government” of Hennadiy Karpenko, I held with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, legendary Hennadiy Udovenko, and I met my friend and colleague Kostiantyn Ivanovych Hryshchenko many times.
Don't be embarrassed. You are a powerful country, the cornerstone, as the leading political scientists of the world say, not only of security, but also democratic development of a vast region.
Ukraine today could play an important role in normalizing the situation in Belarus, ending violence, supporting the democratic forces and the people of our country.
Glory to Ukraine!
Long live Belarus!