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"The solution to the Ukrainian problem is in the hands of Russia and the United States"
The process of peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis is impossible without the participation of the United States. It is Washington that will decide what concessions Kiev will have to make to end the conflict, former Prime Minister Mykola Azarov told Izvestia. The future actions of the American administration will directly depend on the outcome of the meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Zelensky at the White House on August 18. However, it is unlikely to expect negotiations in a trilateral format by the end of next week, as Western media suggest: the Ukrainian president is not ready to sign a peace agreement. At the same time, Mykola Azarov is confident that Kiev has no chance of joining the European Union. Read about the results of the historic summit in Alaska, expectations from the meeting between Zelensky and Trump, as well as the prospects for Ukraine's membership in the EU and NATO in Mykola Azarov's exclusive interview with Izvestia.
"It is clear that Trump treats Zelensky with antipathy"
— On August 15, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump met in Alaska. How would you assess the outcome of this summit?
— From the point of view of moving towards peace, I positively assess this event, but it is quite obvious that it did not solve all the issues that are required for a peace treaty.
Trump abandoned the position from which he went to Putin: he wanted an immediate cease-fire, other Western countries insisted on the same thing. Nevertheless, Russia will not agree to such a condition unless it is provided with guarantees for the cessation of arms supplies or a ban on the regrouping of Ukrainian troops.
I appreciate the courage that Trump has shown in making these difficult decisions. I would like to wish that on August 18, during a meeting with Zelensky at the White House, he would be able to stand his line.
— On August 18, Zelensky may be accompanied in Washington by the heads of Finland, Germany, France and the United Kingdom. What is the purpose of such a delegation? Does he feel that after talks with Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump has taken a closer position to Russia on conflict resolution issues?
— It is clear that Trump treats Zelensky with antipathy, and it is clear that the cohort of all these hawks is needed for only one thing — to put pressure on Trump, because Zelensky is nothing to the American leader, the February meetings showed this.
Trump is a strong politician, but he naturally has to take into account such enormous pressure from his so—called allies. Maybe he will put them in their place if he wants to and if he has the support of his cabinet. But we'll see.
— During a telephone conversation with Zelensky, the American leader stated that the withdrawal of the Ukrainian military from the territory of Donbass could be a condition for a cease-fire. And this is a condition that Kiev is unlikely to agree to now. How can the American president put pressure on the head of Ukraine to accept this condition?
— Before Trump does this, it's not entirely ethical to talk about it.
But Zelensky would not have appeared if there had not been a special operation by Western intelligence services to organize a coup d'etat.
The military conflict also began on their direct command, and this unreasonable position, which Zelensky took before the conflict began, was also carried out on the command of the Biden administration.
"None of the rules that apply in the EU are implemented on the territory of Ukraine"
— Washington is ready to offer Kiev security guarantees, but they are not related to Ukraine's inclusion in NATO. Can Zelensky refuse his country's entry into the alliance to end the conflict?
— Zelensky is just interested in the conflict continuing, because it gives him the opportunity to be in power, receive huge cash flows and be in the focus of attention of the most influential politicians in the world. He is clearly an opponent of peace, so everything he refuses will be determined by the Americans.
One would have to be a complete idiot to accept this regime into NATO and incur a severe headache and, most importantly, the threat of a global nuclear war.
— Earlier, the Minister Delegate for European Affairs at the French Foreign Ministry, Benjamin Addad, stated that he intends to visit Ukraine in September to discuss its accession to the European Union. What is the probability of Ukraine joining the EU?
— Absolutely zero. Currently, the territory controlled by the Kiev regime does not meet any of the parameters necessary for joining the European Union. Firstly, Ukraine currently has no officially recognized borders, and secondly, it does not meet the required level of economic development. In terms of per capita income, Ukraine is one of the poorest countries in the world.
The EU is a common market, so goods and services must comply with certain rules and regulations. None of the rules that apply in the EU are implemented on the territory of Ukraine.
— Some experts believe that the United States may withdraw from the settlement process if progress is not achieved in the near future. Is it possible to resolve the conflict without Washington's participation?
— No, it's impossible. The solution to the Ukrainian problem is in the hands of two countries — Russia and the United States. They are more interested than others in bringing peace to Europe and other continents.
— According to some Western media reports, a trilateral meeting between Trump, Putin and Zelensky may take place as early as next Friday. In your opinion, will this meeting mean the end of the conflict on Russian terms?
— I do not believe in this imminent meeting. There is no point in meeting with Zelensky, who will not be ready to make any concessions. The only person who can change Zelensky's mind is Trump. He can give him some personal guarantees, because Zelensky is most afraid of losing his life and money.
On the other hand, what is Zelensky's signature worth? Any next Ukrainian leadership will declare all the documents adopted in his time legally null and void.
In my opinion, after the most likely unsuccessful meeting between Zelensky and Trump, the issue of a trilateral meeting will be postponed. At this point, it will become obvious to the United States that the Ukrainian regime needs to be replaced by one that thinks more about the country and the people. It will be possible to talk with such leadership. At the same time, it will not be pro-Russian, given 11 years of powerful propaganda, but at least it will understand that the interest of the Ukrainian people is to live in peace with Russia.
— You are talking about the need for regime change. Is there a candidate in Ukraine to replace Zelensky?
— Of course there is. Let's hope that once again the Ukrainian people will not make a mistake and will choose a president who will be able to lead them out of this crisis.
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