Victor Yanukovich: annexation of Crimea is a tragedy
It would not have happened if he had remained President, he said.
Ukraine ex-President Victor Yanukovich who fled to Russia in February 2014 has been interviewed by BBC. It was his first interview since the conflict in East Ukraine had started.
Yanukovich called the annexation of Crimea by Russia a tragedy that would have never occurred if he had remained President. He does not think that it may be possible to return Crimea to Ukraine now. “90% of the Crimean population voted for leaving Ukraine,” the politician noted. This is the result of Maidan that scared the traditionally pro-Russia population of the peninsula, he believes.
Yanukovich characterized the events in Donets Basin as genocide. He is sure that Donets Basin should stay in Ukraine though. Kiev must negotiate and ‘start fulfilling Minsk agreements’, he thinks. Yanukovich thinks that the existence of Minsk agreements is Russia’s merit. The USA and EU should ‘force’ Kiev to conduct direct negotiations with the leaders of the so-called ‘DPR’ and ‘LPR’, he believes.
Photo: BBC
