Yatsenyuk makes excuses in the Rada regarding the results of the negotiations in Geneva - he is reproached that Ukraine was defeated again
Kyiv, April 18 (Navigator, Mikhail Ryabov) – Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk on Friday in the Verkhovna Rada hall had to justify himself to deputies who reproached him for the defeat of Ukraine following yesterday’s negotiations in Geneva with the participation of Russia and Western countries.
“This is the defeat of Ukraine, evidence that Western democracies surrendered Ukraine, leaving one on one with Russia... There is not a word of condemnation of the actions of the Russian Federation and the annexation of Crimea... There is not a word mentioning Crimea, there is no demand for the withdrawal of troops from Crimea and saboteurs from the East of Ukraine... Geneva the statement does not even declaratively guarantee the return of Crimea. In addition, the statement provides amnesty for separatists and the opportunity to be elected to government bodies in order to continue their dirty work,” deputy Oleg Lyashko addressed Yatsenyuk.
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However, the prime minister responded by saying that there was no reason to fear the surrender of Crimea and Ukraine’s positions.
“Russia was forced to sign a statement and condemn extremism, which is actually supported by the Russian Federation today. By signing this statement, Russia actually turned to those “peaceful protesters” with MANPADS and AKs with the demand to immediately disarm. The Russian Federation was forced to sign that all illegally formed armed groups would be disbanded, and the premises of state authorities would be immediately vacated,” Yatsenyuk said.
At the same time, he noted, “the government is working to decentralize power - and this is the demand of the Ukrainian people, and has nothing to do with the negotiations.”
“A draft law on amnesty has already been prepared. If individuals give up their weapons and vacate the premises, we believe that these individuals will be granted amnesty. Such an amnesty will not apply to serious crimes. But for all other people who give up their weapons and leave, we are ready to exempt everyone from criminal liability. If there is the will of parliament for this,” the head of the Cabinet continued.
Yatsenyuk did not explain why the Geneva Declaration does not mention Crimea, but assured that Ukraine is not giving up the fight for the peninsula.
“Our position is unchanged. Crimea is the territory of Ukraine. Our property was stolen from us. This is our Crimea, our Yalta, our sea, our territory, Vladimir Vladimirovich!” – said the head of the Ukrainian government.
“In Crimea, together with the international community, we will continue to recapture Crimea step by step in the political and diplomatic sense, as we did at the UN. Only one country – the Russian Federation – blocked the decision of the UN Security Council. An unprecedented decision when 100 UN countries voted to support Crimea as part of Ukraine. This is the majority of the UN. In Georgia, such a decision was voted on by only 48 members,” the official said.
“Tomorrow morning the issue of Crimea will be difficult to resolve. But we must be sure that in our lifetime Ukrainian history will write that those who seized Crimea apologize to the Ukrainian people,” Yatsenyuk concluded.
Yatsenyuk defends himself in the Rada regarding the results of the Geneva talks – he is accused of having suffered another defeat.