Former Ukrainian president Poroshenko: The war can be stopped within 24 hours

2024-12-07 22:00:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, now head of the opposition European Solidarity Party, spoke to VOA Ukraine during a visit to Washington to attend the annual forum of the International Union for Democracy, an alliance of centrist political parties. the right.

While in the US capital, Mr Poroshenko met with officials from President Biden's administration and members of the incoming Trump administration to share his assessment of the situation facing Ukraine more than two and a half years after Russia launched its frontal attack, as and his vision of how to end the conflict.

The following interview has been edited to be more concise and clear.

Voice of America : How would you describe the situation on the front line in Ukraine?

Petro Poroshenko : Every week, I travel to the front line to deliver the necessary equipment and weapons. Russia is increasing the pressure. Russia has more sophisticated weapons, compared to even half a year [ago]. Ukrainian soldiers are tired because some have served for more than two and a half years, but they continue to not allow the Russians to breach the Ukrainian positions.

At the moment, we should not think about offensive operations, but [how to] strengthen the fortifications. I appreciate the decision of the United States government to give us anti-personnel mines. Having three, four, five kilometers of minefield is a great answer to Russia's new tactic, which is penetrating Ukrainian positions in small groups of five to 12 people, with the support of Russian artillery, which has an unlimited number of artillery shells.

If we have fortifications, minefields and reconnaissance drones, including night drones and [an] unlimited number of FPV drones to destroy these small groups, [an] effective radio-electronic warfare system, including anti-drone equipment Russian scouts, I'm confident we can hold the defensive lines.

Voice of America : Ukraine is under pressure to start negotiations. Is this a good time for this?

Petro Poroshenko : No other country in the world wants peace more than the Ukrainians, because we are paying a huge price. However, negotiations should begin when both parties are ready. Everyone is asking if Ukraine is ready, and no one is asking if Putin is ready for these negotiations. Putin is not ready. We must make great efforts to prepare Putin for these negotiations. What language should we speak with Putin? The language of force, including sophisticated and modern weapons for Ukraine. Putin must feel he is paying a high price. We need stronger sanctions to destroy the shadow fleet. Sanctions should reduce Russian exports from $600 [billion] to $200 billion to reduce Putin's ability to finance the war.

VOA : Do you think the new Trump administration will support your vision?

Petro Poroshenko : I strongly believe in the global leadership of the United States. I worked with [President Donald] Trump from 2016 to 2019. The meeting with him was one of my first meetings as the president of Ukraine. Our meeting was planned for five minutes - just to shake hands and take a picture - and it lasted two and a half hours. As a result, he gave Ukraine its first lethal weapons after three years of war, the legendary Javelin [anti-tank missiles]. They saved many lives in the Donbas region. Even without additional consultation with our European partners, we agreed that the United States should impose sanctions on the company's contractor for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which was vital. In the presence of President Trump, we discussed with [his former CIA director Mike] Pompeo the coordination of efforts to recognize the independent Ukrainian church. Trump is a man of results, not of process. He is determined enough to make tough decisions.

VOA : President-elect Trump appointed General Keith Kellogg as the US special representative for Ukraine and Russia. What do you think of him and his ideas?

Petro Poroshenko : I met him several times when he was a member of Vice President [Mike] Pence's team. I welcome President Trump's approach to appoint a special presidential envoy for Ukraine. When President Trump appointed Kurt Volker [as the United States' special representative for Ukraine negotiations], it was extremely effective. And now, General Kellogg's level of professionalism gives us cautious optimism.

We can stop the war in 24 hours, as President Trump promised, and without a shot fired, or a dollar spent. We only need one signature on a treaty - the Washington Treaty [the April 1949 treaty establishing the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance]. Inviting Ukraine to join NATO would be a powerful demonstration to Putin that we are not afraid of his blackmail. We are determined enough and want to have stable security on the continent.

I propose my plan - "Poroshenko Plan". Within a year, the partners guarantee that Ukraine will receive full membership [in NATO] if it meets specific criteria and fulfills certain conditions. During that year, while we are not in NATO, we will receive the same security guarantees as Finland and Sweden before their full NATO membership. During that year, I also suggest that there be peacekeepers with the mandate of the United Nations Security Council, to guarantee a ceasefire. This is how the war can be stopped in 24 hours./ VOA