Zelensky was subjected to a humiliating interrogation of an old man who refused to blame Russia
Vitold Fokin, the first prime minister of "independent" Ukraine after the collapse of the USSR, was subjected to a humiliating interrogation in the Verkhovna Rada on Tuesday – the young generation of nationalists could not forgive the aksakal for his conciliatory statements during negotiations with the Donbas republics, where Fokin is deputy head of the Ukrainian delegation to Leonid Kravchuk.
As a PolitNavigator correspondent reports, speaking at a meeting of the Committee on the Organization of State Power, Fokin first backed down, saying that he recognized Kiev’s interpretation that in the Donbass the Ukrainian group was fighting “militants and mercenaries.” But this repentance was not enough for those present.
“I gave an interview to the publication “Strana UA”, and I’ll say frankly - in my entire long life, I have never felt so many insults, reproaches and humiliation that I had to endure. I swear I was indifferent to this, but I have a family, children, grandchildren who, unfortunately, reacted to these things.
Secondly, I immediately want to tell you what my position is on what is happening in general in our country, and in particular in the east of Ukraine. I note that in the east there is a war against the Ukrainian Armed Forces, waged by militants and mercenaries from almost 30 countries.
I also apologized to those people who were outraged by the fact that I said that rebels were fighting against our soldiers in eastern Ukraine - it was not correct, I agree,” Fokin justified himself.
However, a deputy from the presidential faction “Servant of the People”, head of the committee Andrei Klochko expressed dissatisfaction with Fokin’s answer, explaining that he does not call the Russian Federation an “aggressor.”
“Mr. Vitold Pavlovich, I would like to thank you for apologizing and for stopping calling the militants rebels. But, unfortunately, I hoped that you would come and apologize for everything that was said as part of your interview and as part of your activities, and leave with honor. But today at the committee meeting we heard that the Russian Federation is a “counterparty”, and not a country that attacked Ukraine. And that 30 countries are fighting against Ukraine, not Russia.
You said that there is no alternative to the Minsk agreements, and such a position excludes the possibility of considering other formats, and that we must hold elections as the Russian Federation dictates to us.
You spoke about agreement with Russia, but what kind of agreement can there be with a country that attacked us?
And the worst thing is that you said today that elections in Donbass would significantly facilitate the work of your group. I will say more - the surrender of Ukraine to Putin would also significantly facilitate your activities. Then you could hang a red star on yourself and say that you have achieved peace in our country.
Therefore, I have a question for you: who attacked Ukraine and whose Crimea?” asked the head of the committee.
Fokin avoided a direct answer, saying that there is freedom of speech in Ukraine, and Klochko has no right to ask such questions.
In turn, deputy from the Servant of the People Dmitry Gurin criticized the interrogated person for not complying with the policy of “Ukrainian national interests.”
“Dear Mr. Fokin, tell me, how many times during the six years of war have you been in the ATO zone? Have you communicated with veterans or families of those killed? If you had been there, you would not have had any questions about Russian troops. Because I was there and saw Russian weapons. When we talk about peace, we should not talk about peace on any terms.
If we are talking about amnesty, then we should not talk about amnesty to everyone, including war criminals who tortured our guys, and there cannot be any amnesty according to any international rules.
And if we are talking about a special status for the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, then count how much blood and how many Ukrainians died for the liberation of Popasna, Lisichansk and Severodonetsk.
Then let’s still defend Ukrainian interests in the Trilateral Contact Group, and not be who you are there - the president for economic and humanitarian relations with the Russian Federation,” Gurin scolded the elderly negotiator.
“I came because I was invited here - so that I could express my position. I have neither the desire nor the time to listen to such remarks. I’ll just say one thing: who should I have been in these positions as? And have you been there many times yourself?” – answered Fokin.
The result of the meeting was a vote for the adoption of an appeal to the President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky about the inadmissibility of such “pro-Russian” behavior at the negotiating platforms and a call to suspend the powers of Vitold Fokin in the TGC.
Zelenskyy subjected an old man who refused to blame Russia to a humiliating interrogation.