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Vitold Fokin (Photo: pps.loga.gov.ua)
A general amnesty in Donbass and the consolidation of a special status for this region are necessary conditions to achieve peace in the conflict zone, believes Vitold Fokin, first deputy head of the Ukrainian delegation to the TCG in Minsk.
Fokin said this in a high-profile interview with Strana. In this conversation, Leonid Kravchuk’s deputy at the Minsk Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) expressed a series of ambiguous positions. The conversation took place after Fokin first participated in the TCG meeting.
NV collected the main statements of Vitold Fokin and the first reaction to them.
What Fokin said is the main thing
The path to peace is visible. I am sure we will return to Donbass. Without it, I cannot see modern Ukraine.
I know Donbass not from hearsay: He went down to the mine when he was not yet 16 years old. The miners are a special people. They are descendants of freedom-loving people, runaways, perhaps with a criminal tinge, who settled on the Donetsk steppes. The character of Donetsk has its own details. The Donetsk people hold out for a long time, but when they swing, it is very difficult to stop them.
Securing a special status for Donbass cannot but lead to peace… But this is hampered by a large, powerful and financially secure grouping of political forces, for which war is its mother. I understand that I will have many opponents, but I will say that the implementation of the Minsk accords is the only way to peace.
I do not consider Russia’s demand for early elections to be held in Donbas as an ultimatum. At the beginning of our meeting [в ТКГ в Минске] it was so «game “: no matter what we said or proposed, Mr. Gryzlov replied:” Let’s start with the fourth point ” [о проведении выборов]… But Kravchuk found himself, offering an appeal [к Раде], played a positive role. I believe that the Ukrainian delegation has found a way out of the deadlock.
If parliament does not support the idea of holding elections (imposed by the RF) is It will mean that the Verkhovna Rada, in some of its voting units, is not very interested in a peaceful solution to the conflict in Donbass.
They wrote that representatives of Russia behave rudely at TCG meetings… The last meeting was normal work. Of course, there were moments of rejection of what we said. But we chose a reasonable approach: instead of going into a clinch, the Ukrainian delegation responded to the point and without emotion.
Are you ready to negotiate with the so-called? leadership «DPR “and” LPR “in the occupied territory of Donbass? Not yet, but if there is a corresponding order from the President or the Verkhovna Rada, the case will not be mine.
We must achieve mutual concessions with the Russian side and representatives of Donbass… If we agree to their demand for a general amnesty, I think they will meet us halfway and reject the demand to change the Constitution for a special status.
Amnesty is an important issue… And on that side, and on the other side, many crimes have been committed that must be investigated, and that the perpetrators be punished. But today, to put an end to the war and save the lives of soldiers and commanders, my job is to declare a general amnesty, hold elections, resolve the issue of the special status of certain regions, and best of all, Donbass.
The special status of Donbass in the Constitution: I think it is an excessive request. They [РФ] you don’t have to insist on it. The Constitution is not a front door, changing it every time is not practical.
ChTo make amends, you need the will of all parties to the conflict. However, I am sure there is no other way. All wars have ended at some point.
There is one more side that in all possible ways prevents the conclusion of peace in Donbass.and, critical of everything we do. They are people who consider even the regime of silence a step towards surrender.
Surrender is when one of the belligerents admits to being defeated, lays down his arms and accepts any conditions, such as compensation and reparation.
How do they react in Ukraine to Fokine’s ideas?
European Solidarity Party (which Fokine hinted as «side, in every possible way interfering with the conclusion of peace in the Donbass “) called his interview “a plan to dismantle the Ukrainian state. “
Political forces were especially outraged by Fokine’s words about the possibility of an early election in CADLO, a general amnesty and “special status” for Donbass.
«If the Minsk Accords speak of the peculiarities of local self-government in certain areas of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, Fokin offers a special status for the entire Donbass. Therefore, the representative of Ukraine in the negotiating group offers the Russians even more than they ask for, ”the party said in a statement.
Eurosolidarity insists that elections can only be held after the liberation of Donbass «and without pressure, and not at gunpoint. “
The party also expressed several requirements for the leadership of Ukraine:
- make public the official position of the delegation of Ukraine (“Instead of publishing Fokine’s various worldview positions”);
- immediately exclude Fokin from the representative office of Ukraine in the TCG (“Otherwise, we will consider that a special status for the entire Donbass is Zelensky’s proposal”).
Political scientist Sergey Taran, close to European solidarity, sees signs of betrayal in Fokin’s statements along with Leonid Kravchuk’s position.
Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Pavel Klimkin believes that Vitold Fokin’s statements discredit the TCG’s work in Minsk.
«If they want to completely discredit the Minsk platform and the Trilateral Contact Group, then the goal is almost achieved, ”Klimkin said.
He recalled that recently Leonid Kravchuk announced the possibility of supplying water to the occupied Crimea «in case of a humanitarian crisis ”,“ and now Fokin says that a special status is needed for the entire Donbass, and not just for the occupied ”.
«In Moscow, they are definitely jumping for joy, they would rather not be able to say: this is just their dream. Giving Moscow the Donbass conquered by the lives of Ukrainian soldiers by introducing a special status is generally a moral surplus. The next step will then be a special status and federalization for the whole of Ukraine “, Klimkin is convinced.
Speaker Verkhovna Rada Dmitry Razumkov expressed his conviction that Ukraine will resolve the issue of amnesty for war criminals in accordance with international practice. So Razumkov commented on Fokine’s idea of a general amnesty in Donbass.
«There is [термин] a war crime that is not subject to amnesty in any country in the world. These are the realities that the world has been facing for many years, and I think Ukraine can hardly go its own separate path here, “Razumkov told reporters on August 31 in Kiev.
Former NSDC Secretary Alexander Turchinov highlighted the words of Fokin about the need for a special status for the entire Donbass and that «both sides committed crimes “ (as an argument in favor of a general amnesty). According to Turchinov, such statements are “a manifestation not only of the senile morass, but a demonstrative transition of Zelensky’s confidant to the side of the aggressor country and the promotion of an anti-state position that reflects Putin’s strategic interests.”
«I want to ask Zelensky’s representatives in the TCG, what crimes did the Ukrainian military commit in Donbass, defending and liberating their homeland at the cost of their own lives? “- asked Turchinov. He also demanded the immediate withdrawal of Kravchuk and Fokin from TCG.
People’s Deputy of the Voice Andrei Osadchuk party objected to those who accuse Vitold Fokin of changing to the post of the Russian Federation. “No, Grandpa Fokin, imitating dementia, did not run to the Kremlin side. He was always there, “wrote the deputy.
Vitaly Bezgin, People’s Deputy of the People’s Servant named «thrash ”statements by Vitold Fokin. “If it’s not Kravchuk, then Fokin. Now to invite you to the committee meeting or what should we do? – Bezgin wrote. – The generation of this thrash in interviews of some of the TCG members is tired. And, of course, there will be no special status in the Constitution! NONE! Not for the temporarily occupied territories, not for the entire Donbass, much more! “- he assured.
AND German political scientist and researcher Andreas Umland, who worked in Ukraine for many years, suggested after an interview with Fokin that the Ukrainian delegation to the TKG could be headed by the first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine, Vladimir Shcherbitsky, if he were alive.
Minister of the Interior Arsen Avakov stated that Fokin’s statements on a general amnesty and special status for the entire Donbass «they do not correspond to national interests ”. “Let’s not forget that thousands of our soldiers died for every piece of our land,” Avakov recalled.
Avakov called on Fokine’s proposal «absurd political speculation “, and his words -” provocative. “
The First Vice President of the Servant of the People faction, Alexander Kornienko admitted that after Fokine’s scandalous remarks, MPs would invite him to a special meeting.
«When the Verkhovna Rada receives letters [обращение Кравчука о выборах], Rada reacts somehow to them. We spoke for several hours with Leonid Makarovich behind closed doors, we understood a lot about this process. [переговорах в Минске], they felt better, “Kornienko told reporters on August 31.
When asked if such consultations would be held with Fokin, Kornienko admitted the possibility of such a meeting.
«Fokin and I have not communicated yet. Maybe we are planning ”, added the deputy.
On the other hand, Kornienko stressed that there are no adequate security conditions for holding elections in ORDLO.
