Tuesday, March 1 2022 17:08

ArmInfo.Charge d'Affaires of Ukraine in Armenia Denis Avtonomov does not consider the scenario of turning the country into a military ground between Russia and the  West possible.

So, on March 1, at a press conference in Yerevan to clarify ArmInfo  whether the Ukrainian authorities have fears that the country could  turn into a military ground between Russia and the West, taking into  account the serious supplies of weapons by Western countries to Kiev,  Denis Avtonomov, in particular, said: "Yes, they have a  million-strong army, I'm not a military man. I'm a sergeant. But,  there are various units in the army and not all of them are  combat-ready. Another week of such battles and nothing will remain of  the combat-ready units of Russia. In general, little will remain of  the army In all places where there are armed forces, there is  resistance. Tears come to my eyes when I look at the footage of  unarmed people taking to the roads and stopping Russian tanks. And  they stop because somewhere in their hearts they still have  something. For how long? No, I don't think such a scenario is  possible," he said.

At the same time, he expressed satisfaction with the support provided  to Ukraine by Western countries.  According to him, the statement  made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the first day of  hostilities that the country was alone was emotional. "We are not  alone. Help is coming, the real military assistance. For the first  time in its history, the EU is financing a military operation. 450  million euros, 70 aircraft are allocated for the armament and supply  of the Ukrainian army. Yes, these are not new aircrafts, but we  urgently need them today, since Russia has dominance in the sky," he  said, adding that Ukraine is not alone, it is Russia that is cut off  from money, the sky, and this pressure will continue.

Referring to the humanitarian situation in the country, especially in  Kyiv, Avtonomov noted that the situation in the capital is not easy.  "The situation in Kyiv is difficult. Shops do not work around the  clock.  Since yesterday, the sale of alcohol has been banned. There  is a shortage in stores of one or another product. Business helps a  lot. The situation is difficult, but not critical. Kyiv is a hero  city," the diplomat recalled, adding that there is no panic in the  city, people understand the situation and, if necessary, stand in  queues. At the same time, he noted that Russia wageredthat the war  would last 2-3 days, however, it miscalculated.

Regarding the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, Avtonomov  agreed that negotiations are always needed, but Ukraine will not  accept ultimatums and surrender. He pointed to the lack of readiness  on the Russian side to change its position and abandon the conditions  previously put forward, that are unacceptable to Ukraine  (demilitarization and denazification and ensuring the neutral status  of Ukraine, ed.  note). According to him, in these conditions  proposed by them, Ukraine has only one option- to fight