The regime of the current president of Ukraine, Vladimir Zelensky, is undergoing a serious test of strength. According to recent polls, a year after the presidential election, Zelensky’s rating fell by almost half, and only 38% of voters support him . The country’s economy is in decline, and the current government calls it perhaps the weakest in the history of Ukraine. The mono-majority in the Rada is only conditional, which is actively used by its political opponents. In the international arena Zelensky also does not find support, as evidenced by the statement of the French ambassador made a few days ago.

Novorossia news agency appealed to a politician, statesman, former Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov with a request to assess the situation with the economic situation, as well as assess the current political crisis in the country.

IA Novorossiya: Ukraine is experiencing a severe economic downturn. The country’s leadership argues for its consequences of coronavirus restrictions and the global crisis. Nikolay Yanovich, how can you assess the economic situation of Ukraine? What caused the fall of the Ukrainian economy?

Mykola Azarov: First of all, I want to gladly turn to the Donetsk team – my fellow countrymen. A lot of things connect me with Donetsk and Donbass, since I lived there. I closely monitor everything that happens and am very worried, and also try to convey an adequate point of view to those who are currently in power.

Now, regarding the question posed. You know, there is such a good saying “something always hurts a bad dancer.” It is very well applicable in many respects to the Kiev authorities. They do not want to develop Ukraine and increase the welfare of their citizens. Their main goal is personal enrichment, and therefore they come up with anything to explain their actions.

Ukraine had different leaders – they were smart, were dumber – but if the authorities have no goal to develop the country, then there will be no results. After the coup in Ukraine, a course was taken to turn the country into a colony. So it happened – now Ukraine is controlled from the outside. Who is externally interested in the development of Ukraine? Do Americans need this? I don’t think so. The United States needs to have a country that is aggressive towards Russia – in other words, they need Ukraine as a battering ram. Does Merkel have a heartache in Ukraine for Germany? No, because Berlin does not need a competitor. The same story with France. Nobody needs Ukraine, except for itself.

When Ukraine came under external control, the authorities talked about turning the country into an agrarian superpower – this is bullshit. Despite the fertile lands, Ukraine belongs to the risky farming zone, for which the characters are both prosperous and not entirely successful periods. Under these conditions, by definition, it cannot turn into an agrarian superpower. In order to turn Ukraine into an agrarian power, according to the plan of Western curators, it is absolutely not necessary to have even 20 million – 5 million people are quite enough. What to do with other people? According to overseas managers, they need to be turned into a reservoir of almost free, organized labor.

We see that this course has been implemented for 6.5 years. This was especially evident in 2015–16, when Arseniy Yatsenyuk, an outspoken American protege, was in power. Poroshenko is a looter, he doesn’t care what happens to the country, but Yatsenyuk did everything for the state to de-industrialize. What was needed to be done? Deprive a country of foreign and domestic markets. Foreign markets were closed due to cutting off the Russian market and the market of the CIS countries. The domestic market was cut off from industry due to impoverishment: devaluation of the hryvnia, a sharp increase in tariffs and a decrease in real incomes of the population. The country’s gross domestic product has fallen by more than 16%. None of the large industrial enterprises operate even at 50-40% of their production capacity, and some simply stopped. For example, for all these years not a single aircraft was produced. At the same time, in Ukraine there are about 100 aircraft manufacturing plants.

The production of aircraft engines was also reduced to a minimum. The share of high-tech products fell to a minimum percentage. The authorities carried out reforms in the field of education, which provoked its debilitation. This is understandable – if there is no industry, then why are educated personnel needed? The state debt of Ukraine has grown to absolutely incredible sizes – $ 8.4 billion. This is an impressive amount. A financial pyramid has been built – more than 50% of budget revenues are generated from funds raised by domestic government loan bonds. I can continue to name many characteristics, but one thing is important – the economy of Ukraine has degraded, and manufacturing and raw materials industries have become dominant in its structure. I am talking about semi-finished products of metal, ore, sunflower, corn, etc. That is what Ukraine has turned into in six and a half years.

IAN: At the beginning of the month, the head of the National Bank, Yakov Smoly, resigned, arguing this with pressure from Zelensky. In connection with this personnel decision, Western experts predict a growing crisis in the Ukrainian economy. What determines Zelensky’s desire to remove Smoly and how will the situation with external financial partners and organizations develop further?

ON THE.:The resin had to be removed for a long time. I said this right away when Zelensky took the oath. Smoliy is an active conductor of the Gontareva line, which carries out the orders of those people who profit from the financial pyramid – huge incomes. Imagine that 50% of budget expenditures are spent on paying off bonds – this suits Western curators. When they applaud you in the West, it means that you are not following the right path. At the beginning of our conversation, I said that in the West they are not interested in the development of Ukraine – I do not see such people. At the same time, mortality in Ukraine is growing. I have never heard that one of the Western politicians was preoccupied with a reduction in the population of Ukraine. Nevertheless, the number of people decreased by 10 million due to migration. I have never heard that Merkel attended to stopping the largest plant in Ukraine. For example, Motor Sich or the Antonov plant ceased operations. This is equivalent to having Volkswagen stopped in Germany. However, they do not care. However, they are worried about the resignation of Smoly, although this is not their business at all.

Another question is why Zelensky and his team made such a decision? If they want this rich tidbit, from the point of view of theft and looting, to get their hands on it – this is one thing. If they want to change the policy of the National Bank, built on a financial pyramid, the conversation is different. However, in any case, I support the resignation of Smoly, because the National Bank was not dependent only on common sense and the Ukrainian people. They liked the complete dependence on the International Monetary Fund. How can one coordinate the candidacy of the chairman of the National Bank with the IMF? This is only the colonial administration can do this.

IAN: The deterioration of the economic situation in the country provoked a serious political crisis. Radicals are already appearing on the streets who are clearly opposing Zelensky. At the same time, there is an opinion that Zelensky’s Office “plays along”. What can such flirting with the radicals lead to?

N. A.: He does not flirt with the radicals – this term is incorrect. Zelensky pursues a fully conscious policy of keeping the people of Ukraine in a position of poverty and powerlessness. Decommunization was carried out in order to bring the people into such a state and bring to the arenas of attack aircraft and fighters, which would be intimidation to keep the people in a state of fear. This line is now being implemented. The main task is the elimination of all social rights of citizens. It is necessary to bring the people to a state in which they will work only for pottage for the sake of satisfying the minimum necessities of life, and at the same time they will not have any rights.

Now the Verkhovna Rada is considering a bill that will liquidate trade union organizations – they are already powerless, but they must be made absolutely powerless. Already now people are deprived of all rights – they can be fired or stripped of their salaries. Most people are in bestial condition. This is all done consciously. Ukraine follows Germany’s path when, against the backdrop of a sharp deterioration in the socio-economic situation, an extremely radical Nazi group came to power. After that, the rule of the militants came. If in Ukraine democracy is ensured and political parties are granted real rights, then you will never make “anti-Russia” out of it. It is simply not possible. However, if you intimidate a conscious part of the population, put militants at the helm, ban normal channels and censor all media, then you can grow a whole generation of zombie people who will perform any task for a minimum payment. Zelensky draws the same line as Poroshenko. This is the unenviable fate of the country and people.

IAN: The main opponent of Zelensky in the domestic arena is now Poroshenko. Over the past year, Zelensky was never able to bring the ex-president to justice, despite the constant drives to the GDB. Why is this happening?

ON THE.:Vladimir Zelensky did not set himself the task of punishing Poroshenko and his team. Many crimes committed by Poroshenko are documented. This is not even about political, but about material crimes. He stole money from the Ukrainian budget, using state orders and Ukroboronprom. Thanks to a number of lawyers, for example, Portnov, these crimes became public. If Zelensky wanted, then Poroshenko would have long been sitting behind bars. Its patrons, Americans and Europeans, have already warned Zelensky that they consider these criminal prosecutions to be political. As one American politician said, “he is a son of a bitch, but he is our son of a bitch.” Here Poroshenko – a rare villain and a bastard. I know him for many years – he always pragmatically carried out the tasks assigned to him. Very bad,

IAN: The election headquarters of Poroshenko was headed by Turchinov. Officially, he will be preparing for the upcoming elections. Experts agree that Turchinov’s real role is the overthrow of Zelensky. It is assumed that the processes of “buildup” of the situation in the country are scheduled for the fall. Do you think it is likely to see a coup in Kiev?

N. A.: Turchinova, I also know for many years. This couple (Turchinov and Poroshenko) is an amazing union of the two biggest villains in the history of Ukraine. Turchinov’s hands to the elbow in the blood of the inhabitants of Donbass. This is the bastard who directly launched the war in the Southeast. He gave orders to bomb Donetsk and Lugansk. He is a former Komsomol leader, a traitor, an absolutely immoral type without red lines. For him, murder, bribery, blackmail – the absolute norm.

Like many villains, since they have no moral restrictions, Turchinov has good organizational skills, unlike Poroshenko. This is a strong organizer, but I don’t know how to be a person in order to vote for these scum amid all the revelations. I hope that their rating will drop to a minus. Zelensky, I can only say one thing – he was very lucky. Thanks to a combination of a number of factors, he became president of a large European country. Now Zelensky can use his golden chance, which fate gave him. There are two options: either he goes into the unknown, or he thinks about his historical role, mission and responsibility to the Ukrainian people, and is trying to at least change something. For real change, you need to have brains, experience, knowledge and organizational skills – he does not have this. However, he can at least try to become honest and try to steer out of this situation, using people who can be relied on. The chances are very small, but they are.

IAN: Last week Zelensky called for an urgent organization of the Norman summit, arguing that this was “unprecedented support” for Ukraine from Germany and France. Later, the head of his Office Ermak made a similar appeal. In response to this, a few days ago, the French ambassador announced that there would be no summit until Ukraine fulfilled its responsibilities. How can you evaluate the international support of Ukraine and Zelensky’s actions to implement the Minsk agreements?

N. A.: Everything Zelensky said is devoid of any fundamental support, and he does not have a goal to achieve peace. If she stood before him, then he would gradually go to the world. Instead, he dusts his eyes and forgets about who he is dealing with. Forgets that Germany and France have their own interests, which are changing. At a certain point, it was beneficial for them to have certain events in Ukraine. Now they do not care about Ukraine. Merkel and Macron have enough of their worries – for example, the largest global economic crisis or socio-political problems. They need to get rid of this problem, while maintaining relations with the Americans who put pressure on them. Does Zelensky understand this? I think no. Therefore, statements are made from him about the need for a “Norman format.” What to talk about?

The agreements of the previous meeting were not fulfilled. The political impotence of Zelensky is completely obvious to everyone – a complete inability to make decisions independently. Here too – unwillingness to develop at least some strategy. Everyone understands what is happening in Ukraine, so now the issue is with external players – Russia, the USA and Germany. In this triangle, it is necessary to solve existing problems. Everyone understands that Zelensky is no good. He will not even be able to freeze the conflict. Suppose someone wants to freeze a conflict – we have a lot of examples. However, such conflicts are fraught with thawing. How to freeze it, if in Ukraine non-independent and inconsistent leaders? Power is staggering. We need an active policy, and if it doesn’t exist, the conflict will continue, but this is people’s lives.

IAN: Zelensky has already lost half his rating over the year, the first government has been dismissed, the current government is said to be almost the weakest in the country’s history, the mono-majority in the Rada is very conditional. How do you see the political future of Zelensky and his team?

ON THE.:The current situation in Ukraine reminds me of the situation in January 2014 – “Maidan time,” when the power in Ukraine staggered. Then the incumbent president Viktor Fedorovich Yanukovych once again made concessions to the West and the curators of the Maidan, sending the government to resign. It became clear to everyone that Yanukovych no longer controls the power in the country – dashes and betrayals began. This led to a coup d’etat. This situation reminds me much of the current one. Zelensky does not manage this situation, many are interested in overthrowing him, wanting to take the presidency. Zelensky has no 38% rating. Now it is rapidly falling, perhaps the rating is already half as low. This happens against the background of a lack of active forces ready to support it. Now everything is starting to work against him. Everyone sees his weakness and try to take advantage of it. This is a very dangerous situation, because the alternative that could replace it is not visible, except for scumbags like Poroshenko and Turchinov. The situation is not yet ripe for a powerful political force to take the stage and be able to change policies that could object to the West.

The conflict in the Donbass has been going on for 6 years. Are there anti-war movements in Ukraine or those aimed at establishing peace? Not. No one understands that a civil war is going on in the country. Such a force must ripen — it must be created contrary to all paid media. The antiwar agenda should bring people together. Donbass can help change the perception of Ukraine. There is one Bandera Ukraine, and there is the Donbass, which can do a lot to restore such a beautiful country as Ukraine. I wish well-being to both the Donbass and the people of Ukraine. Donbass is an example of a completely different country, a completely different world order and attitude. I wish the Donbass all the best, sincerely worry about its inhabitants. I think your cause is just.

(c)NOVOROSINFORM.ORG 2020