Oleksii Arestovich, one of the main advisers to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, had a nervous reaction to the idea of Ukraine ceding territories to make peace with Russia. “Our children are dying, the soldiers, the infantry are stopping the rockets with their bodies – and they are telling us to sacrifice our land?” Arestovich exclaimed amid curses reminiscent of the famous “Russian warship, go fuck yourself!”
The departure of Oleksii Arestovici took place during a discussion between Mark Feygyn, a former Russian lawyer and politician, an opponent of Vladimir Putin, who now has a TouTube channel on which he interviews.
The idea of Ukraine surrendering from its territory to end Russia’s war has been circulating several times in recent days. Such signals came from Paris and Berlin, and even Henry Kissinger, the former US Secretary of State, a veteran of US diplomacy, hinted that Ukraine should give up part of its territory to end the conflict.
O. Arestovici: – They (Russians – no) are putting increasing pressure on the front. And they want to increase the pressure, they could try again offensives on Kiev, Chernivtsi, Sumi. And at the same time (no negotiations are taking place). Why am I doing this? Precisely for their whining Western “allies,” who will say “Wait, the Kremlin wants peace! Kiev is the one who does not want! Let’s put pressure on them! Clearly, Russia only needs Zaporozhye and the Kherson region. “and then “Peace agreement in Europe, Ukrainians must temper their demands!” – I saw this right in the American press, in the New York Times, and “We will certainly restore universal peace in Europe”and “We will return to normal”and “We will get over the food crisis”. I’m going to swear, I’m extremely angry after seeing all this …
M. Feygyn: – Don’t hold back!
O. Arestovici: – We’ll add bipand I’ll be polite – Go to hell, you bastards, with your suggestions (Go fuck yourself, motherfuckers – in English). “Negotiate the land of Ukraine”? You are crazy? We are bleeding … Our children are dying, our soldiers, the infantry are stopping their missiles with their bodies – and they are telling us to sacrifice our land? Get out of here, you bastards, this will never happen.
The English translation of the interview excerpt was done by Dmitri, a London-based Estonian who translates news and messages that go viral on social media from Ukrainian to English.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has also launched a virulent attack on former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who suggested on Tuesday that peace talks should be aimed at creating borders along the “line of contact” in the Donbas. as it existed on the eve of the Russian invasion.
“No matter what the Russian state does, there is someone who says: “Let’s consider his interests”. This year, in Davos, it was heard again. Despite thousands of Russian missiles hitting Ukraine. Despite the fact that tens of thousands of Ukrainians were killed. Despite what happened in Bucha and Mariupol. Despite the destroyed cities. And despite the “filter camps” built by the Russian state, in which people are killed, tortured, raped and humiliated like a conveyor belt, “the Ukrainian president said in a video message posted on social media.
Editor: Bogdan Pacurar
