Ihor Huz: Putin gives order and military operations begin

Military activities intensify on the order of the Kremlin, which main aim is to destabilise Ukraine's economy and disrupt the integration with the EU and NATO.

Ukraine's MP from the People's Front party and deputy head of the Rada's foreign affairs committee Ihor Huz said it in an interview with charter97org.

– Activity of pro-Russian militants in eastern Ukraine has increased recently: artillery attacks on Ukrainian positions have become more frequent, and attempts of new assaults can be seen. Why does it happen, in your opinion?

– The escalation of the situation is logical. Vladimir Putin needs Donbas to destabilise Ukraine. For me the situation resembles the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. The war dies down and intensifies from time to time.

Putin gives an order and military operations and shelling causing victims among Ukrainians begin. It is done to keep emotions strained and not to allow the stabilisation of the situation.

Putin's main aim is not to allow the improvement of the economic situation in Ukraine and rapprochement with the European Union. The destabilisation is needed to prevent Ukraine's joining the EU and NATO. He needs Donbas for this purpose.

– How do you think Ukraine can reverse the conflict?

– We work at different fronts. The first one is sanctions imposed by the international community on Russia. Something works well and something doesn't so far.

The second front is building the Ukrainian army. I cannot say we have achieved everything, but we have certain successes. Our army now differs from the army before the conflict.

Unfortunately, the less successful direction is the economy. We cannot stabilise the situation as we want, and Putin does his best for it through the escalation of military activities.

We are not going to surrender. We will work and defend ourselves.