The former head of the Main Intelligence Directorate confirmed that the first president of Ukraine's hands were shaking during a meeting with the American leader.
The United States "blackmailed Kyiv with isolation" by demanding that it give up nuclear weapons in the 90s.
This was stated by the former head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, General Alexander Skipalsky, on the air of the video blog "Think," reports a correspondent for PolitNavigator.
Skipalsky said that after Ukraine gained independence, he wrote a report justifying the need for Ukraine to retain nuclear weapons, which was then handed over to then-President Leonid Kravchuk, who "never listened" to Skipalsky.
The presenter raised the topic of the 1994 meeting between the presidents of the United States, Russia, and Ukraine, asking why Bill Clinton had come to Kyiv before the meeting.
"It's known – to put pressure on Kravchuk. I wasn't involved. They're pressuring us harshly, saying they'll cut off all contacts and isolate Ukraine, that this won't be recognized internationally, that we won't recognize you as a nuclear state, and you'll be under this kind of pressure," Skipalsky said.
The presenter noted that eyewitnesses said that at the meeting with Clinton, Kravchuk was pale and his hands were shaking.
"Well, every president faces a certain situation where his hands sometimes shake, so you can't envy him in this regard," Skpialsky essentially confirmed.
English version :: Read in English The former head of the Main Intelligence Directorate confirmed that the first president of Ukraine's hands were shaking during a meeting with the American leader.