PRESS RELEASE : Ukraine has become a symbol of freedom, the center of Europe where the struggle between good and evil is now concentrated – Mykhailo Podolyak

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 11 April 2022.

After Europe and the world saw the horrific crimes committed by Russian troops against civilians in the Kyiv and Donetsk regions, they began to help Ukraine more decisively to repel Russia’s armed aggression. Mykhailo Podolyak, Adviser to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine said this in an interview for the host of the TV channel “Ukraine 24” Tygran Martyrosyan.

“In my opinion, the emotional component has already started working. Significantly. Especially after Bucha, Kramatorsk, etc. If in the beginning European countries perceived the war as a war of armies – they said that, of course, we will help with something, because Russia is much bigger than Ukraine – then after this emotional overstrain that took place in the Kyiv region and then in Kramatorsk, when people who were preparing for the evacuation were deliberately bombed, it will move Europe to even more radical action against Russia,” said Mykhailo Podolyak.

The Adviser to the Head of the Office of the President noted that long before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Europe tried to pretend not to notice the threats and to preserve its usual way of life.

But Russia’s treacherous, unprovoked invasion of Ukraine has forced all countries to reconsider their positions: some have taken the lead, and some have remained in the shadows.

Mykhailo Podolyak noted that, unfortunately, even today in some European countries there are pro-Russian sentiments, but Russia will never be a civilized state again according to moral and ethical grounds.

“You have to accept this, you have to minimize contacts with it at all levels,” Mykhailo Podolyak urged the world.

According to him, if Ukraine does not stop Russia now, Russia’s expansion will spread around the world.

“Russia, which violates global rules, will continue to invest in all kinds of terrorist organizations, and the whole European security will be threatened. Because everyone will understand that it is possible to create arbitrariness and wage wars violating the rules of war – rape people, burn them, make videos of it and show it on TV, brag about it. That’s what will happen,” he said.

Therefore, according to the Adviser to the Head of the Office of the President, Europeans must decide for themselves – to lose 1.5% of GDP today, pay a little more for utilities and lower living standards but stop the horde and return predictability to European security.

At the same time, Mykhailo Podolyak emphasized: Ukraine does not call on Europe to send its soldiers to fight alongside Ukrainians and no longer asks to close the skies. It urges to provide equipment, heavy artillery and air defense equipment.

“Give it to us, and then we, Ukrainians, will deal with it ourselves. In particular, with the Russians. And we will defend Europe in the end. And then we will count who owes what to whom and why we paid for it with so many lives of our citizens,” he said and thanked those who already have the right, pro-Ukrainian position.

The Adviser to the Head of the President’s Office is convinced that the war has shown that Ukraine is a country with a strong leadership spirit.

“A country with a really strong leadership spirit has emerged in the heart of Europe, with a strong-willed President who undertakes a more global responsibility, who offers the world to reconsider security formulas,” said Mykhailo Podolyak, adding that yesterday there were many who thought that Ukraine was a provincial country with a weak economy.

He also said that the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Head of the Office of the President, the Prime Minister, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada and ministers also proved that they can withstand the hits.

According to the Adviser to the Head of the President’s Office, Europe and the world have begun to recognize the power of Ukraine and talk to us on an equal footing – as a country that has proven its high morale. He called the visit of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to Kyiv an example, which demonstrates the solidarity of the two nations. By his actions, Boris Johnson showed that one can be a brave politician.

“This is a symbol of the fact that Ukraine will not lose, because no one comes to those who potentially lose. And the example of Russia proves it,” Mykhailo Podolyak said.

He also stated that many leaders are already visiting our country, thus expressing solidarity with Ukraine and demonstrating faith in its victory, understanding of how rotten modern Russia is and showing that it is unacceptable for them.

They also provide practical assistance. The United Kingdom is the leader in this regard – in moderating processes and intensifying assistance, combining all programs.

“It seems to me that any visit today – and there are many of them now – emphasizes that Ukraine has become a symbol of freedom, the center of a free Europe, and that the struggle between good and evil, values of freedom and values of the totalitarian regime is concentrated here no matter how pompous it sounds. That is why everyone who comes here expresses solidarity not only with Ukraine, but also with the fact that the values of freedom, democracy, choice, competition are really important for them,” the Adviser to the Head of the President’s Office summed up.