Dear Editor,
I am writing to you with regard to your latest editorial ‘Struggle over Ukraine continues’ published on September 3, 2014. This leader, as well as previous ones is based on misconceptions that are characteristic of the Cold War mentality and mislead readers.
The conflict in Ukraine occurred because of internal political developments and not because of the invasion of Russia, which simply never occurred. Ukraine is our neighbour, a sister nation and everything that is happening in that country is of concern to the Russian people. We have shared deep historical roots and cultural connections for centuries; more than 17 million Ukrainians live in Russia and 10 million Russians live in Ukraine.
With the support of the USA and the EU radical and nationalist groups unconstitutionally replaced in February 2014 the elected president. Not all the regions in Ukraine agreed to these changes, and feeling threatened by the new Kiev authorities they began to demand their rights, including use of the Russian language and autonomy. Not willing to listen to the demands of the people, the authorities in Kiev waged a civil war against those who disagreed. As a result more than two thousand civilians have been killed, including women and children, over 800 thousand have fled to Russia. More than two million people of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions live in poor humanitarian conditions in the war zone.
Constant strikes by artillery and Grad rocket systems and the use of bombs on cities continue to lead to the loss of life among civilians, and destroy infrastructure, leaving people without water, food and medical supplies, electricity and heat. The suffering of the civilian population will only become worse with the approaching winter. Neither Nato, Washington nor Brussels is rushing to help the victims of this civil war. Despite attempts to avert attempts by Russia to provide humanitarian aid to the people in southeast Ukraine, recently a cargo of more than two thousand tons of food supplies, medicines, electric generators and warm blankets was delivered to Lugansk. After talks between Russian and Ukrainian presidents on September 3, 2014 Vladimir Putin proposed a concrete plan, a copy of which has been published in Guyanese newspapers and the Caribbean News. The plan is based solely on the direct inclusive dialogue of the parties in conflict. Russia is not a party to the conflict, but what happens in Ukraine cannot but concern the Russian people. As for Nato, one can observe the consequences of the application of the ‘controlled chaos theory’ in Iraq, Syria, Libya and now the Ukraine. Attempts at outside intervention bring only disaster and suffering to the people in many countries around the world.
Yours faithfully,
Denis Kopyl
Press Attaché
Russian Embassy
in Guyana
