Firtash: Ukraine’s accession to NATO should be put to a referendum
Ukrainian businessman Dmytro Firtash, who has been in Austria for the past eight years fighting extradition to the United States, said he did not believe in the possibility of a major war between Russia and Ukraine. In an interview with the Austrian newspaper “Die Presse” Firtash said that now there is no reason why Russia may want a war .
Ukraine , Ukraingate , 5 , February , 2022 | Ukraine News
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Asked by Die Presse why Putin had sent so many troops to Ukraine’s borders, Firtash said: “There is a big geopolitical game between Russia, the United States and China. There is a redistribution of the world. Ukraine is on the menu, but we were not allowed to sit at the table. Putin does not want Ukraine to have military bases that could pose a threat to Russia. “
Firtash also called it a mistake that in 2019 the parliament at the level of the Constitution set the course for Ukraine’s accession to NATO.
“Poroshenko first had to ask the people. Ukrainians should hold a referendum on whether they want to join NATO or not, ”Firtash said.
Firtash also said that for him the neutrality of Austria is an example to follow. “I have already proposed the” austrification “of Ukraine in 2014. But as Sigmund Freud said? “The voice of reason is quiet, but it will be heard.” I am convinced that neutrality is the only right path for Ukraine, “Firtash said in an interview with Die Presse.
Asked by Die Presse whether Putin would accept Ukraine’s neutrality, Firtash said the Russian president had no alternative. “Russia has restructured its economy and expanded its cooperation with China. But Russia, of course, does not want to lose Europe and completely surrender to China. “
According to Firtash, Russia may soon recognize the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics or annex them altogether. According to the businessman, Ukraine should implement the Minsk agreements to close the border with Russia.
At the same time, Firtash noted that there is a risk of victory in the local elections in Donbass of people who are negatively treated in Ukraine. “But the most important thing now is to stop the war and return Ukrainian territory,” Firtash said.
Source: Ukrgate
