Klitschko: Ukraine’s independence is still an open question
15 February 18:12
The existence of Ukraine as an independent state remains an open question, according to Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko. He expressed this opinion in an interview with the Financial Times published on Sunday, February 15, as reported by "Komersant Ukrainian".
According to Klitschko, due to Russia’s regular strikes on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, the country’s capital “is on the brink of disaster.” As the FT notes, 3.5 million Kyiv residents are experiencing the coldest winter since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Attacks by Russian missiles and drones have led to large-scale temporary power, heating, and water outages in sub-zero temperatures.
“Putin’s main target is Kyiv and all of Ukraine. He wants to destroy our independence,” Klitschko said.
Rivalry between Klitschko and Zelensky hinders efforts to deal with the crisis in Kyiv
According to the mayor of Kyiv, the work of the city authorities is complicated by his long-standing political rivalry with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Earlier, the head of state accused Klitschko of failing to adequately prepare the capital for the coldest winter in a decade. The president’s position was also supported by 17 public organizations, the FT writes.
In an interview with the publication, Klitschko acknowledged that he and Zelensky have a long-standing mutual hostility that predates the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. As the mayor of the capital noted, both politicians competed for control over Kyiv. Klitschko believes that the president of the country interfered in local self-government and, against the backdrop of the war, is slowing down reforms on the decentralization of Ukraine’s administration.
Klitschko also stressed that he does not support the idea of holding new presidential elections before a ceasefire agreement with Russia is concluded and Ukraine receives reliable security guarantees.
