Armed with an AK-rifle 54, the former president of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko , assured that both he and other compatriots are ready to defend their country from the Russian invasion.
In an interview with CNN on a street in Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, Poroshenko assured that the Russian forces will not stay with the territory.
“How long do you think you can hold out? ”
“Forever.”
Former Ukrainian President @poroshenko takes up a Kalashnikov rifle alongside civilian defense forces as he speaks to @JohnBerman from the streets of Kyiv. pic.twitter.com/jxGl6BKgZR
— CNN (@CNN) February 20,
“No matter how many soldiers (Vladimir Putin) kills, how many missiles he has, how many nuclear weapons he has, we Ukrainians are free people with a great future in Europe ”, declared the former president to the US network.
“He (Putin) is simply crazy. It is just evil to come here to kill Ukrainians,” Poroshenko said.
Surrounded by Ukrainian defense forces, the former official called the Russian president “crazy” and “evil” , Vladimir Putin as a result of the order given for the invasion that began Thursday morning.
“Everyone has to understand that Putin declared war, not on Ukraine. Putin declared war on the whole world“, exposed the politician
“How long do you think you can hold out?”, the Ukrainian was questioned; to which he replied: “Forever”.
Poroshenko added that his battalion is about two to three kilometers from the zone of clashes between the soldiers of his country and the Russians.
The former president also indicated that Ukraine needs the help of countries like the United States and United Kingdom to direct actions against Russia such as removing the demarcation of the world banking system known as SWIFT.
For the time being, the Joe Biden government has been reluctant to apply this measure.
According to Economipedia, SWIFT or Society for World Interbank Financial Telecommunication is a cooperative group, founded in Brussels in 1973. Through the system, a common language is established for financial transactions, a shared data processing system and a global telecommunications network.
“The SWIFT infrastructure brings together the vast majority of banks of the world, making fast and secure communication between them possible”, details the page.
Poroshenko also requested a blockade of Russian planes and ships in the European Union and in NATO ports (North Atlantic Treaty Organization).
“It is important for us to feel that we are not alone, that you are with us in this”, he added .
The Ukrainian, from the European Solidarity party, led the country between 1973 al 2019.
The so-called “chocolate tycoon” assumed power after the “Maidan Revolution” that put an end to the government of Viktor Yanukovych.
The May elections of 2014 in which the trader defeated Yuliya Tymoshenko took place amid the struggles in the pro-Russian border cities of Donetsk and Lugansk to become republics.
Poroshenko is accused of aiding pro-Russian separatists during his presidencyOn 20 December 2019, Poroshenko was charged with treason against the state, as he allegedly used state finances to help pro-Russian separatists sell valued coal in $54.8 million dollars to Kiev in 2014 and 2015.
If found guilty, Poroshenko, who has denied the accusations, faces up to 15 years in prison.
Upon being released provisionally last month, the judge ordered the former president to hand over his passport; It also confiscated their properties and assets.
Poroshenko has attributed the accusations against him to a political move by President Volodimir Zelenski, his main opponent.
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