Poroshenko: The main goal of the Minsk agreements was to avoid a full-scale invasion
The fifth president of Ukraine and leader of European Solidarity, Petro Poroshenko, stated that the main goal of the Minsk agreements was to avoid a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.
He spoke about this in an interview on the “Pryamiy” TV channel.
“I want to remind everyone when the idea of Minsk appeared. August 2014, the invasion of the regular armed forces of the Russian Federation into Ukrainian territory. 10 brigades and divisions were formed. Thousands, tens of thousands of Russian paratroopers, military personnel, tankers. We had no armed forces. We did not have a single battalion in the distance from Pokrovsk, Ilovaisk to Kyiv. We had two companies of the National Guard that guarded and covered nuclear power plants. That’s all. And we had to stop the Russian offensive,” Poroshenko said.
He reminded that these were not some mercenaries, these were regular forces.
“And in August, we immediately provided the world with captured Russian paratroopers, captured combat equipment, tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, BMDs, and documents. Then they still traveled with documents. And Putin found himself in a situation where he still had to explain it. And in conditions when we have no armed forces, and regular Russian troops invaded us, which there was nothing to stop, it was necessary to use diplomatic art, as Trump says, without having trump cards in his hands, to stop the advance of enemy troops on our territory,” Poroshenko added.
The fifth president noted that this was made possible thanks to powerful signals from Wales, from Cardiff, where the NATO summit was held, where for the first time Ukraine participated directly in the summits at such a level, and not only in the Ukraine-NATO commission.
“And there was a very powerful, non-public message to Putin when the members of NATO member states, the members of the G7, informed him that Minsk should be signed. And the first Minsk was signed on September 5. The second protocol based on the achievements of September 5 was signed on the 19th. To stop the offensive actions, the territory along the contact line was determined. And what does it matter that Russia did not fulfill its obligations? The intensity of the fighting was reduced dozens of times. This gave us the opportunity to breathe and begin the creation of the Armed Forces, before financing,” Poroshenko said.
He recalled that on February 12, 2015, Putin thought that this was his success, because he publicly declared to the heads of state that 11,000 Ukrainian soldiers, including the 128th brigade, including two motorized brigades, including the battalions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, including the battalions of the National Guard, were surrounded and should raise the white flag and surrender to the mercy of the victor, handing over all their equipment.
“This was Putin’s demand. And as a result of the brilliant Debaltseve operation, then the brigade commander, who received the Hero for this, Mr. Shaptala, individual heroic officers conducted an operation when the lion’s share was withdrawn from Debaltseve. And they got into it only because the FSB agreed with individual unit leaders when a 2.5 kilometer front was opened that could be held,” Poroshenko noted.
He noted that this was a surprise for Putin, he didn’t believe it.
“Therefore, he says: okay, I’m ready for a ceasefire, but in 10 days. Being convinced that in 10 days there will be nothing left of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. We say no. In five days? We say no. As a result, we agreed that in 48 hours,” Poroshenko said.
He also added that this was made possible thanks to coordination with the leaders of Germany and France.
“The first key principle of the Minsk agreements is respect and confirmation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine in all areas. Russia has not fulfilled them. But this is in the agreements signed by the Russian ambassador. The second position is the immediate withdrawal of all foreign troops from Ukrainian territory. The next position is the immediate withdrawal of all equipment, including heavy equipment. The next position is the immediate release of all those who were captured. The next position is the holding of elections by Ukrainian political parties, the Ukrainian Central Election Commission, and Ukrainian media,” Poroshenko recalled.
The leader of Eurosolidarity emphasized that he does not defend Minsk.
“It was a forced position, but an unconditional success for diplomats. Listen to diplomats, listen to leaders of states, listen to everyone who is not politically biased for an objective assessment. More than 10 years have passed since the Minsk agreements. Well, do better. The main function of Minsk is to avoid a large-scale invasion,” Poroshenko said.
Earlier, the fifth president of Ukraine and leader of “European Solidarity” Petro Poroshenko stated that real security guarantees are the readiness of allies to fight on the side of Ukraine . The only mechanism that provides such a guarantee is Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.
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