​In an interview with Kyiv journalists HotNews.ro, President Zelenskyi’s advisor Mykhailo Podoliak explained what, in his opinion, are the arguments why Europeans and certainly Romanians should continue to support Ukraine in the war unleashed by Russia.

The presidential administration is located about half a kilometer from the Maidan, ground zero of Kyiv. Since it is a target for Russian missiles, the entire area where Ukrainian government buildings are located is surrounded by roadblocks.

To drive or pass through this area, you must either live there, or you must be on a list of authorized people that the security forces have from residents or authorities.

In the presidential building, the last line of defense is being prepared in case the Russian military goes that far: the entrance to the presidential headquarters is lined with sandbags, from which the Ukrainian military could open fire on the enemy.

So far, it is calm in Kyiv. Until yesterday evening, there had been no alarm of an air raid for several days. However, at 1 a.m. in the city, as in Trivoza, sirens howled! Installed on the phone. However, people no longer rushed to shelters, as it was before.

In this context, on Saturday morning, the HotNews.ro team met with Zelenskyi’s adviser Mykhailo Podolyak at the headquarters of the presidential administration.

“Europe should stop being afraid of Russia”

After a year of war, people are already talking about “European fatigue” related to the war in Ukraine. In Romania, we have some data (from the Eurobarometer) that shows this 25% of Romanians would currently be against aid to Ukraine. How to counteract this “fatigue”? How do you see things?

Mykhailo Podolyak: We are trying to explain the nature of this conflict, this war. I want to convey to 25% of the population of Romania (those who do not approve of the aid to Ukraine): do you agree that the Russians will come to you and slaughter your children?

If you do not agree to help Ukraine now and do not regret everything that can happen if Russia is not stopped, the Russians will enter Moldova and then Romania, and it is possible that Russia will dominate all of Europe.

Therefore, we must explain the nature of this war: it is not a war for territory, it is a war for the right to live as you want.

Russia has made it very clear that it will not respect international law and will invest a lot of money, including in political assassinations, in assassinations.

He has made it very clear that he will invest money in corruption, in the hijacking of public order in these countries and in radical parties to create chaos in them.

We are now very bluntly saying that either we go back to order or there will be no Europe at all and you have to make a choice.

What do you think about the security plan proposed by Britain, Germany and France for the start of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia? How do you see it?

This plan does not exist now. It is not there and will not be. After a year of war, after tens of thousands of Ukrainians killed, you suggest that we kneel before Russia and start negotiations.

Because that’s what this plan is all about. It sounds very strange: they (non-Russians) came here, killed people, raped, and you tell us that you should start negotiations and give them part of their territories.

It is very strange to think that politics is so simple, you give the territory and that’s it. Then I have a question: why do you think Russia will stop here? Why don’t you think that Russia will go even further.

Naivety cannot be part of politics. In 2014, the Europeans told us to give up part of the territory and peace would come. Did peace come after that?

Russia entered our territory, launched rockets, committed several murders and rapes in Kyiv region, Zaporizhzhia and other regions. They violated international law. Just now, our prosecutor’s office has opened 70,000 cases about everything that Russia did.

You believe that Russia, which has gathered all the resources to fight against Ukraine, will calm down after we give up the territory and will not go any further. I want to understand where such naivety comes from. If Russia comes here, it will finance terrorist acts on the territory of Ukraine and political murders, including the country’s leader. This will be a gray area on your country’s borders and I don’t understand why you want this to happen.

What is missing in Ukraine now? What else do you think Europe should do to help Ukraine win this war?

First, Europe should stop being afraid of Russia. Secondly, Europe must understand that the world will no longer be like it was before the war.

Europe must understand the essence of this war: it is not a war for territory, it is a war for the right to be as we want and as you want. They must understand that if there is a country that is determined to go to the end, then this country must be supported.

It is also necessary that Europe starts to invest a lot in the defense complex, because the situation has shown that the lack of investment in the defense sector can end very badly.

Then Europe has to stop playing this game of “we have to stockpile new weapons so that we can use them someday when we need them”. This weapon needs to be used now because there is a global war going on right now. There has not been a war on this scale since World War II. Now the weapons must be given to Ukraine, which must put an end to this war.

How do you see relations between Ukraine and Romania at the moment?

If it is about my personal opinion, I would describe Romania’s attitude towards Ukraine as ideal. The Romanian government understands very clearly the essence of this war and what the risks are if this war does not end.

Romania supported Ukraine and initiated and is initiating several discussions or several important projects. It has also become a very important transport and logistics hub for us, for Ukraine. Undoubtedly, we will have more issues that need to be discussed within the framework of bilateral relations. We have a relationship based on trust, and I am convinced that we will understand each other on all the issues that are discussed.

“8 million Ukrainians who left is a very large number, and it causes some concern”

A very large number of Ukrainians left the country, more than 8 million. Some have estimated that it will be about 20% of the country’s population. Is there a concern about that, on the one hand, that some of them won’t come back and cause problems for the economy? Are there programs to encourage these people to return home?

Obviously, 8 million is a very large number, and it is a cause for concern. Yes, measures are needed for this country to develop.

On the other hand, we understand why they left, and most of those who left are women and children. Rockets fall into their houses, the last case was in Zaporizhzhia, when ten people died in their house, so we understand why they left. These rockets are launched every day, and some cities are simply wiped off the face of the earth, such as Kharkiv or Kherson.

We are very grateful to the countries that sheltered our citizens, particularly Romania and Moldova, but we want these people to return.

At the same time, we want to change the structure of the economy, make a different economy and create jobs. In our country, several businesses have been destroyed, and we are thinking about creating mechanisms to stimulate the creation of new businesses so that people are motivated to return to their country.

Yes, we are concerned about getting these people back into this economy, which is in a pretty dire situation right now.

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