Uladzimir Matskevich: Ukraine is going through the period of feats and disgrace, betrayal and glory

photo zn.ua

Nevertheless, with the current scale of the anti-terror operation, no quick ending of the conflict in Ukraine is foreseen.

On August 24 Ukraine celebrated yet another anniversary of it independence.

The 23^rd Independence Day had specific meaning for Ukraine: brutal fight for independence is going on; the fight not for life, but to the death.

At the celebration of the Independence Day in Kiev the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko named the conflict at the east of Ukraine a “patriotic war“ and called on his fellow citizens to be ready to constant external threat from Russia: “Unfortunately, Ukraine will always face a military threat… And we must learn to live with that… We must always be ready to defend independence…”

“The developments of recent months became a real war for us though it hasn’t been declared. Probably, it will go down in history as Patriotic War 2014. The war against foreign aggression. For Ukraine, for its will, dignity and glory, for the people,” emphasized Poroshenko.

The Independence Day was marked with military parade in Kiev; in Odessa, Lvov, and Dnepropetrovsk demonstrations were held.

Was the military parade perceived as feast or famine by the civilized world Uladzimir Matskevich, the head of the Board of the International Consortium “EuroBelarus”, answered the questions of the “EuroBelarus” Information Service.

- Why did the official Kiev decide to celebrate the Independence Day with pomp when the war is going on?

- Indeed, this decision is controversial. It is hard to say how justified are parades during the war.

Ukraine is now experiencing a very important and symbolic period - the period of feats and disgrace, betrayal and glory. I think that Ukrainian patriots will appreciate the parade.

It is no coincidence that the gunmen in Donetsk held an alternative “parade”. Terrorists made a column of prisoners of war walk along the city; those, who were captured by terrorists during the anti-terror operation were hooted down by insignificant number of marginal part of locals.

- Poroshenko named the events at the east of Ukraine a patriotic war. How justified is such characteristic of Ukrainian events?

- Patriotic it may be, this definition is too stock, but ideologically is very strong.

The other thing is whether everything that happens in Ukraine is a war. The official Kiev still calls its actions “an anti-terror operation”, and the actions of the armed bandit groups – terroristic actions. It isn’t defined as a war because of paradoxes and contradictions of the international law. If the developments in Ukraine were called “a war”, Ukraine would fall into a category of countries that lead the war and would automatically lose a number of preferences – the help it needs now so badly. But if Ukraine declared a war, it wouldn’t be a civil war, as Ukraine is fighting with Russian mercenaries.

But if the war is declared, the anti-terror operation will end quicker. Martial law should be introduced, and the border through which gunmen get weapon and manpower should be closed at short notice. All the more that during the war absolutely different actions are allowed.

Declaration of war has its own pros and cons. One of the biggest disadvantages is the worsening of relations with NATO, the EU, and the US. However, in that case Russia would fall into a category of countries that use aggression against another independent state, and if it happens the sanctions introduced against Russia would start working to the full.

- Ukraine’s President called for his fellow citizens to get ready for the constant external threat. The source of this threat is, obviously, Russia. How long might Russian aggression against Ukraine last?

- The current regime of the anti-terror operation doesn’t provide for the quick end of the conflict. Even if the armed groups consisting of Russian mercenaries and Ukrainian citizens are defeated, the conflict might spread to the whole Ukrainian territory in the form of terroristic acts. We already see some demonstrations of terrorism in the peaceful areas of Ukraine.

By not recognizing Ukrainian statehood and maintaining its hegemonic claims for defining the policy of the different state, Russia is posing a constant threat for Ukraine.

Even if the current Russian regime is dismissed, extremist groups that are able to act without the support of the new authorities will remain.

- From “brotherly Slavic people” Russians and Ukrainians promptly turned into worst enemies. Will Ukraine be able to get out of Russian clutch in the near future and at what cost?

- This is a key question for the long-time outlook.

Russia has to get used to its current international status. Powerful state, great empire that is opposing the whole world remains in history; today’s Russia is just an ordinary country, which is in the state of strong depression, has certain potential, and is strongly dependent on the world market.

It is no coincidence that Russia is now a member of BRICS among the countries that are trying to step into a civilized development path. Russia is a country with great potential, but now it is very weak and vulnerable. And until Russia understands in what situation it is now, it will continue its attempts to restrain the rights of the countries that are highly dependent on Russia.

All 23 years after the Soviet Union was dissolved, Russia did everything to leave the countries of the former USSR behind, and this, first of all, applied to Ukraine and Belarus. Russia is simply inhibiting the development of these countries. As long as Russia leads this policy, there is no saying about the restoration of good relations.