In the program "Rendezvous with Yanina Sokolova" with 'Channel 5', former Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, ex-Secretary of the National Security Council Oleksandr Turchynov has commented if he is pleased, or on the contrary, he gets angry when called "bloody pastor".
Source: Channel 5
"You know, I'm already used to it. This nickname was invented by Russian propagandists, in order, as they believed, to humiliate and insult. Still, I was often called "pastor", and their message that I am "bloody", that my hands are covered in the blood of Russian military, Russian patriots – I am used to this and do not pay attention," Turchynov said.
He also spoke about Putin, Zelensky's power, the war, and LGBT people.
We do not need to search for compromises, but to strengthen sanctions against the Russian Federation, the former NSDC Secretary is confident.
"Putin respects only force. He considers any compromise only as a weakness of the opponent. They use any compromises to strengthen their positions and deploy further demands, further offensive positions. Therefore, only force, only a powerful army and modern military equipment. This is what guides him. All the rest is just words," Turchynov said.
According to him, the negotiation process began in 2014: "and though we did not receive military support, the West has always strongly supported us at the diplomatic level."
Turchynov is confident that negotiations with the Russian Federation should be conducted, but in the process, the pressure should not be eased.
"No agreements, no hopes that one morning Putin will wake up and say: what are we doing in Ukraine, we have enough problems in Russia... As long as Putin is alive, this will never happen," the former NSDC Secretary said.
He added that Russia was and remains the aggressor, and that is the only way to name it.
Therefore, in his opinion, it is necessary not to search for compromises, but to strengthen sanctions against the Russian Federation, which is extremely effective in the current crisis, "when Russia is already in economic prostration."
"If we do not raise the issue of strengthening sanctions, the opposite question will always be raised, the question of their cancellation," Oleksandr Turchynov said.