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Exclusive/ Ambassador of Ukraine in Tirana: Putin wants to draw the borders of Europe with tanks

2022-07-05 17:39:07Fokus SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Exclusive/ Ambassador of Ukraine in Tirana: Putin wants to draw the borders of
Volodymyr Shukrov, Ambassador of Ukraine to Albania

Beyond the war, the first Ukrainian ambassador resident in Albania, Volodymyr Shukrov, talks about the impressions our country has left on him, as well as the recognition of Kosovo by Kiev

Erion Habilaj – Vox News

The Ambassador of Ukraine to Albania, Volodymyr Shukrov, in an exclusive interview for VOX News, talks about the war that Russia has launched against his country, the situation in Ukrainian cities, the refugees, and the aid that the West is giving. Shukrov shows the reasons why Vladimir Putin has started this war that is causing thousands of victims and what is expected to happen next. Ambassador Shukrov appreciates Albania's attitude towards the Ukrainian people and says that Putin wants to draw the borders of Europe with tanks in 2022. When asked about Kosovo's independence, the ambassador of Ukraine says that for the moment the focus is on facing the war and at another moment the stance on Kosovo will be reviewed, while he does not hesitate to thank Pristina for the support it has shown to Ukraine.

Vox News: Mr. Ambassador, thank you for taking the time to have this conversation. It has been more than four months since Russia launched a military attack on your country. In your opinion, why in 2022 Russia uses force and tries to occupy an independent country?

Volodymyr Shukrov: Thank you! It is not easy to answer your question, as it seems like a rhetorical question. The vast majority of people around the world fail to understand why in 2022 Russia is using force and trying to occupy an independent country. It seems that Russia's top leadership still lives in the past and tries to realize its imperial ambitions in this way. It seems really terrible when, in the third millennium, someone is trying to draw the borders on the European continent with tanks. But this is not just a war, it is an attempt to exterminate the Ukrainian people, as every day Russia, through missile attacks, kills the civilian population in different regions of Ukraine. In fact, we don't have safe territories today.

Vox News: If we were to take stock of the state of cities in Ukraine, what has happened and is happening there and what is the most optimistic scenario to end this war?

Volodymyr Shukrov:The situation in the capital and in the western part of Ukraine now seems a little calmer. However, rocket attacks continue here as well. The main battles are taking place in the eastern and southern parts of our country. There are completely destroyed cities, such as Mariupol, Severodonetsk, Popasna and others, there are almost destroyed cities (Bucha, Borodyanka, Irpin...), cities that survived the occupation and the war crimes committed by the occupiers against the civilian population. The Russian army is subjecting Sloviansk, Kramatorsk and Kharkiv with cruel shelling. You probably know about the recent rocket attacks on the shopping center in Kremenchuk, and on residential buildings in Odesa, Mykolaiv, etc. Regarding the scenario for ending this war, I would like to recall the words of President Zelensky, who, in particular, I emphasize that, it is clear to everyone in the world, but also to the majority in Russia that Ukraine will win. It's only a matter of time. But, unfortunately, this is a matter of losses that Ukraine is experiencing, first of all, losses in human lives. This is a matter of modern weapons, which Ukraine receives and will continue to receive from our partners from the entire civilized world, united today. In other words, the question of ending this war is currently being decided on the battlefield. Of course, given the huge number of deaths - both among the military (and Russia has already lost more than 35 thousand of its soldiers) and among the civilian population - we would like this war to end as soon as possible. it was possible. unfortunately, this is a matter of losses that Ukraine is experiencing, first of all, losses in human lives. This is a matter of modern weapons, which Ukraine receives and will continue to receive from our partners from the entire civilized world, united today. In other words, the question of ending this war is currently being decided on the battlefield. Of course, given the huge number of deaths - both among the military (and Russia has already lost more than 35 thousand of its soldiers) and among the civilian population - we would like this war to end as soon as possible. it was possible. unfortunately, this is a matter of losses that Ukraine is experiencing, first of all, losses in human lives. This is a matter of modern weapons, which Ukraine receives and will continue to receive from our partners from the entire civilized world, united today. In other words, the question of ending this war is currently being decided on the battlefield. Of course, given the huge number of deaths - both among the military (and Russia has already lost more than 35 thousand of its soldiers) and among the civilian population - we would like this war to end as soon as possible. it was possible. continued to receive from our partners from all over the civilized world, united today. In other words, the question of ending this war is currently being decided on the battlefield. Of course, given the huge number of deaths - both among the military (and Russia has already lost more than 35 thousand of its soldiers) and among the civilian population - we would like this war to end as soon as possible. it was possible. continued to receive from our partners from all over the civilized world, united today. In other words, the question of ending this war is currently being decided on the battlefield. Of course, given the huge number of deaths - both among the military (and Russia has already lost more than 35 thousand of its soldiers) and among the civilian population - we would like this war to end as soon as possible. it was possible.

Vox News: Many international analysts see this Russian war as an attempt by Vladimir Putin to restore the glory of the former Soviet Union. How far does this thesis stand and do you think that NATO's approach to the areas of Russian influence was a reason to attack Ukraine?

Volodymyr Shukrov: We can agree with this attitude of international analysts. For the Russian leadership, the collapse of the Soviet Union was truly a tragedy. Of course, Russia would like to continue to keep Ukraine and the rest of the former Soviet republics in its traditional sphere of influence. If we consider the arguments of the Russian leadership, then it seems that it is the policy of NATO expansion that caused what is happening now, but recently it is difficult to understand them, since the reasons they put forward were dismissed during this war and more and more new arguments are appearing. However, does not an independent state, in this case - Ukraine, have the right to independently choose the path of its development and the form of its security guarantees?

Vox News: Your compatriots are fighting with Russian soldiers, but many others have also been forced to leave the country. What is the number of Ukrainian citizens who have left the country, and where have they taken refuge at the moment?

Volodymyr Shukrov: More than 12 million Ukrainians were forced to flee their homes to escape the war. Over 5 million (including 900,000 children) have fled the country. Nearly 8 million Ukrainians became internally displaced persons. At the same time, more than 3 million have already returned from abroad to Ukraine. Ukrainians who were forced to leave the country to escape the war live in countries such as Poland, Moldova, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Italy, Germany, Great Britain. There are such Ukrainians in Albania as well, although they are relatively few here. I want to emphasize that most Ukrainians refuse to receive refugee status. Everyone is waiting to return to Ukraine.

Vox News: A few days ago there was the NATO summit in Madrid, what exactly did you want from this summit?

Volodymyr Shukrov:Ukraine expressed the aspiration that the final document of the NATO Summit in Madrid (June 28-30, 2022) will have strengthened political signals regarding the allies' response to the biggest Euro-Atlantic security threat in recent decades, which contains today Russia's continued aggression against Ukraine. At the same time, we have initiated that the Allies call on the Russian Federation for an immediate and complete withdrawal of its armed forces from the territory of Ukraine, and we also confirmed that Ukraine opposes the freezing of the conflict and the recognition of the occupation of a part of the territory of Ukraine. We also welcomed the inclusion in the final document of the Summit, the commitment of allies to continue providing military assistance to Ukraine,

Vox News: There is a public perception that the Russian attack on Ukraine has united the West more, such as the European Union and NATO countries. But is this union in the interest of Ukraine, and are you satisfied with NATO's response to restrain Russian aggression against your country?

Volodymyr Shukrov: Russia's aggression against Ukraine really contributed to the unification of EU and NATO countries. Ukraine is receiving strong aid in both the defense and financial spheres. Currently, NATO acts as a guarantor of Ukraine's security in its opposition to the Russian aggressor. The participation of EU and NATO countries in the development of mechanisms for the reconstruction of Ukraine after the war is also evident. An example of this unity and cooperation is the international conference for the recovery of our state, which is taking place on July 4-5 in the Swiss city of Lugano.

Also, I want to add that the Recovery Platform of Ukraine will consist of three levels:

- The first, the high level, where the leaders of the states will be represented.

- Second, the Joint Coordinating group, which will include heads of executive power and decision-makers from Ukraine, USA, EU, Great Britain, Poland and other partner countries.

- The third, the thematic group from the fields of industry. 24 groups of the National Council for the Reconstruction of Ukraine.

Vox News: Albania has been active in this conflict and a few days ago the Albanian Prime Minister was personally in Kiev, but the general opinion in Albania seems to have a unified stance in solidarity with Ukraine. What is your opinion about Albania's position?

Volodymyr Shukrov: We are grateful to Albania for its solidarity and support to Ukraine, both bilaterally and multilaterally. Albania's solidary position with Ukraine is particularly visible in the UN Security Council, where Albania currently presides as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. Albania provides humanitarian aid to Ukraine, participates in the development of mechanisms for the reconstruction of our country after the war. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama spoke about all this with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi and Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on June 15, during his official visit to Ukraine. I would like to express a special gratitude to the people of Albania for the support they are giving to the people of Ukraine.

Vox News: Mr. Ambassador, I will ask you a question that other colleagues have actually asked you. Due to the decisions of the Great Powers, the Albanians are divided into several states, as we are the only state whose land border consists of our compatriots. Albania has a concern related to Kosovo. Ukraine is one of the states that has not recognized its independence, perhaps because of the efforts made by Russia and Serbia. Do you think that the moment has come to have a different approach and recognize Kosovo as an independent state, as it actually is?

Volodymyr Shukrov: The issue of recognizing Kosovo has been raised repeatedly. Also, Prime Minister Edi Rama raised this issue during his visit to Kiev on June 15. Ukraine is closely monitoring the situation in the Balkans, especially in the Western Balkans region. We are grateful to Kosovo for its solidarity and support to Ukraine in its fight against the Russian aggressor. Now it is important for us to get out of the fire of war. The recognition of Kosovo's independence can be discussed at a later stage.

Vox News: You are the first Ukrainian ambassador to our country, how did Albania look to you?

Volodymyr Shukrov: It is true. I am the first resident Ambassador in Albania. I see Albania very positively. First of all, this concerns the people of Albania, who deserve respect for their sincerity and ability to feel the pain of others. At the same time, I find Albania very interesting from the point of view of history, culture and language. The role and importance of Albania in the Western Balkan region is also evident. And I belong to those sympathizers of Albania who want it to go towards full membership in the EU as soon as possible.

Vox News: Albania has had a history of close relations with Russia, here I am talking about the Second World War and the years after, but today there are often news that the Albanians are ready to join the people of Ukraine to stop the Russian attack , how do you feel about this fact and do you see a real friendship between the two peoples, or does this attitude come as a result of the American attitude in favor of Ukraine?

Volodymyr Shukrov: I believe that there are feelings of mutual respect and sincere friendship between the Ukrainian and Albanian people. In my opinion, Albanians perceive injustice more sensitively, and it is precisely in this paradigm that they perceive Russian aggression against Ukraine. The sense of injustice pushes Albanians to support Ukraine, something they do. Solidarity and support for Ukraine is shown both by the leadership of your country and by ordinary people. As Ambassador of Ukraine, I would like to once again express my gratitude to the people of Albania for their solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

Vox News: Thank you, Mr. Ambassador, and I wish that the war ends as soon as possible, for the benefit of your people first, but also for the whole world in general.

Volodymyr Shukrov: Thank you very much! We believe in victory and a speedy end to this terrible war.

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