Oleksandr Lytvynenko: Aggression against Ukraine had been thoroughly prepared by the authorities of the Russian Federation for decades
The events of 2014-2015 in Ukraine are not casual and can not be viewed in isolation both from the previous policy of Russia towards our state and from its general policy, which considers the world through the prism of so-called confrontation with the Western countries. This was stressed by Deputy to Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Lytvynenko during the presentation of materials of the research on the topic: "Crimea. War: preconditions of Russian aggression" today in Kyiv.
"Oppression of Ukraine is the Russian strategic aim, which emerged not today, not yesterday and not even 300 years ago", - Mr. Lytvynenko said. According to him, after 1991 Russians enshrined the ideas of reunification of the post-Soviet countries in key strategic planning documents, which now are in effect in the Russian Federation and determine the main directions of its actions. To achieve this goal, Deputy to NSDC Secretary of Ukraine is quite sure, a wide arsenal of political, economic, energy and outreach measures was used. "The goals of the Russian Federation were never limited to specific regions, it was always about the whole Ukrainian state", - he noted.
Oleksandr Lytvynenko informed that, for this purpose the Russian Federation formed a broad polyvariant strategy: in particular, the main instrument for gaining control over Ukraine by peaceful means was the political regime that became possible after Yanukovych had come to power. "If Russia would have lost control over him, they were planning а coercive way", - Deputy to Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine stated.
Mr. Lytvynenko named two scenarios developed by the Russian leadership. "After the victory of Maidan and Yanukovych's escape, Russians acted according to two pre-planned ways: the first and more important to them was the restoration of power of the previous regime in Ukraine. We have seen how they went this way, trying to legitimize President Viktor Yanukovych with the help of Russian troops. Moreover, large-scale military preparations began and Russians became more active in their military presence on the world stage", - he said.
Mr. Lytvynenko added that the second scenario was the scenario of divestiture of the Crimea and the south-eastern regions of Ukraine. "As if at a command, active destabilizing activities started in nine regions of Ukraine on March 1. It is telling, that just on April 6 simultaneous assaults of administrative buildings were taking place in several unrelated regions - in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Luhansk, that indicates a distinct planning", - he noted.
Deputy to NSDC Secretary of Ukraine added, that when at a very high price the Ukrainian state blocked both the first and the second scenario, "Russians have localized their targets, creating a foothold in Donbas, but their offensive there also was terminated".
"Now a new reality emerged. The old Ukraine, which had existed before 2013, disappeared. The geopolitical situation in Eastern and Central Europe had changed. Beneath our eyes its new form is being shaped, and we are the participants of this history", - he noted.
Oleksandr Lytvynenko emphasized that aggressive policy towards Ukraine is still in effect, "a hybrid war against our country continues". "We are grateful to Europe and the USA and the whole democratic world for helping Ukraine, but only we can defend ourselves", - Mr. Lytvynenko summarized.