Talking Points: Ukraine - The counter-offensive and more. April 7, 2023
Other topics include Ukraine's relationship with Poland and Russian Terrorism.
Text Edited by: Sgt. (jr) Sarah Ashton-Cirillo of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Photo credit: Sgt. (jr) Sarah Ashton-Cirillo of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
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1.) The partnership between Ukraine and Poland
On April 5, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy made the first official visit to Poland since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
● If the concept of “Slavic brotherhood” does exist, then its purest example is the unbreakable bond between the Polish and Ukrainian peoples.
● Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Warsaw continues to be one of Kyiv's key partners:
Poland is the third country regarding the amount of military assistance provided to Ukraine.
Poland is a powerful lobbyist for Ukraine in the West; it consistently promotes the topic of support for Ukraine and its European and Euro-Atlantic integration.
Through the territory of Poland, Ukraine receives military, humanitarian, and energy assistance from all over the world; this country is the central logistics hub.
Fleeing from the war, millions of Ukrainians found shelter in Poland; they were provided with all the necessary assistance.
● Poles sincerely support Ukrainians. This has been shown not just through military aid. They initiated numerous volunteer projects in support of Ukraine.
● Warsaw’s help for Kyiv is not masking any imperialist goals. On the contrary, it is interested in supporting a cohesive, sovereign, and powerful Ukraine. A Ukraine which will be an ally of Poland in relations with both the East and the West.
● Russian aggression is a threat not only to Ukraine but to Europe. Poland is one of the countries that understand it well.
2. The de-occupation of Ukrainian territory
● Restoring control over all territories within the internationally recognized border of Ukraine is the unchanged, ongoing, and primary goal of the liberation.
● During the counter-offensive, the Armed Forces will not invade Russia.
● The administration in Kyiv does not reject the opportunity to pursue a diplomatic path for restoring Ukraine’s territorial integrity as long as they are made in the national interest of the Ukrainian people.
● The option of a cease-fire or freezing the conflict while invading Russian troops exists on Ukrainian soil is unacceptable.
● Crimea and the formerly occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts do not have any special status, nor do their administrative boundaries of those areas matter when it relates to the claims of the Russian Federation or their puppet collaborators.
● In preparation for the reintegration of territories under occupation since 2014, the government of Ukraine will consider local specifics and unique approaches in reuniting those regions with the whole of Ukraine.
3. A year marking the terrorist attack on Kramatorsk
On April 8, 2022, Russian troops launched a missile attack on the Kramatorsk railway station, killing 61 people and injuring 121. Among the victims of the attack were children.
● The tragedy in Kramatorsk is one of the bloodiest Russian terrorist attacks carried out during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
● The missile strike victims were people waiting to be evacuated from the combat zone to safe areas. Ukrainian authorities tried to save these people, but the Russian war criminals killed them.
● The attack on Kramatorsk was not on a military target. It was a terrorist attack by the Russian terrorist state against Ukrainian civilians solely meant to intimidate the populace.
● As in the case of every war crime, Moscow tried to shift the responsibility to Kyiv, claiming it was a Ukrainian missile. This was proven to be yet another Russian lie.
● The circumstances of the Russian shelling of Kramatorsk were investigated, and the perpetrators are on the list of those who will be brought to justice.
Once Ukraine and Poland were brothers, and split, [1648 was a complex year in a lot of places] and Chmielnicki trusted Alexei of Russia, and the Ukrainian people were subjugated. Then Stalin tried genocide. Then there was Glasnost... briefly. And everyone in Europe was like 'Russia is a modern country now' and Ukraine was urged to give up its nuclear weapons. Well, those of us who said at the time, 'The Russian bear is still the Russian bear' were told we were paranoid and stupid.
And who in Ukraine will ever trust the word of a Russian ever again? I am glad that the UK and US have retrieved honour to some extent after our treaty-breaking, having [along with Russia] guaranteed Ukraine's safety and integrity if they gave up nuclear weapons. Which we ignored in 2014. Shame. Glory to Poland for sticking by their fellow Slavs. Slava Ukraini! Heroyam slava!
Thank you for reminding me of these horrific events and reminding the world Russia needs accountability.
Congrats on the promotion....be safe