VICTOR ANDRUSIV: THE GOVERNMENT IGNORES THE EXPERTS AND DOES NOT HEAR THE PEOPLE’ OPINIONS ON THE CONFLICT SETTLEMENT IN THE DONBASS

 Only a new political strategy that takes into account the opinions of society will help Ukraine to resolve the conflict in the Donbas. This was emphasized by the Executive Director of the UIF Victor Andrusiv on his page on the FB.

He stressed that the Ukrainian Institute for the Future, having studied the world experience, has developed an appropriate strategy. The document was handed over to the newly elected President and his team. Despite the promises, the government has left it on paper. But Ukraine is increasingly dependent on the position imposed by Russia.

The expert reminded that at the end of June, he and the head of political programmes of the Ukrainian Institute for the Future Yurii Romanenko met with the (now former) Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council Oleksandr Danyliuk. “We tried to explain that we need to play a long game, set a key goal to change the Minsk format and reach a new agreement,” he said.

In July, Victor Andrusiv published an article in the Dzerkalo Tyzhnia “The Conflict in the Donbass: a new strategy”, where, in particular, noted: “Putin’s key interest in the conflict is to reach a comprehensive agreement with the West on the division of spheres of influence, according to which Ukraine and a number of other countries will return to the area of interests of the Kremlin. To do this, it needs a weak and unstable Ukraine that will reduce the West’s hopes of building a strong democracy here, which, in the end, should push for this major deal. For Ukraine, the return of the pre-conflict status quo, with equal conditions for Donbas and autonomy of the Crimea, is not just a priority, but a matter of survival. Compromise in these interests can create even greater destabilization and chaos.”

Unfortunately, Victor Andrusiv states, the authorities did not listen to the opinion of experts, because on October 6, thousands of people came to the Maidan against the so-called Steinmeier formula. He emphasized that this is a signal action, which, if people’s opinions will not be heard, can develop into a new Maidan.