Ukraine's Ability to Retake Crimea and ORDLO, Putin's Desire to Break Up the EU, the Zelensky-Poroshenko Conflict and the Switch to Latin Script: Danilov Gives Wide-Ranging Interview

Danilov explained why it is important to stand up for Ukraine in the face of the Russian threat.

Secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov gave a wide-ranging interview to Radio Svoboda.

The article covers Danilov's views on Ukraine's role in defending Europe from Russia, how Kyiv is being turned into a “backwater,” Western “concern,” and the need to switch the Ukrainian language to Latin script and introduce English as a second state language.

Switching the Ukrainian language to Latin script

Danilov said he supports transliterating the Ukrainian language into Latin script, as well as introducing English as a second state language in Ukraine.

I'm in favor (of transliterating Ukrainian into Latin script — ed.). I believe this will be one of the fundamental things; we need to get rid of Cyrillic and switch to Latin. As for language, you know my position. I'm for two languages in our country. English must be mandatory. Because if we are talking about the civilized world, English is the language of civilized communication. 

According to the NSDC secretary, everyone should know English. “Those who are already elderly, it is difficult, that is one thing, but starting from kindergarten, it should be in schools,” Danilov said.

The question Danilov answered from one of the readers concerned “the revival of Ukraine not as a colony of Russia” after the state language law was passed.

On the possibility of the Armed Forces of Ukraine retaking Crimea and ORDLO

The NSDC secretary also said that Ukraine's Armed Forces could drive occupation out of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions (ORDLO) and “fight for Crimea.”

Danilov warned that as a result, hundreds of thousands of people could die.

Oleksiy Danilov
NSDC secretary

But we have to keep in mind that we cannot allow tens or hundreds of thousands of people to die during such military operations. Because we do understand where that line is. But that does not mean that if necessary we will not use it.

On the forced passportization of the Ukrainian population in ORDLO with Russian Federation passports, Danilov sided with the population, stressing that for many people obtaining such a document is a forced measure.

Oleksiy Danilov
NSDC secretary

630,000 passports have been issued. This is occupation by the Russian Federation. It is called occupation when people cannot live without a Russian “Ausweis.” Back then, when Hitler occupied territories, he issued corresponding documents there, where the symbol of Nazi Germany was. The Russian Federation is doing the same now, issuing these documents. Because without this document, unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of people cannot live in that territory. They cannot go to hospital, they cannot send their children to school. This is called occupation.

On Putin's desire not only to seize Ukraine but also to break up the EU

Danilov, also answering a question about his statement that Russia's main goal is not simply to “take Ukraine,” said that at present the Kremlin is “actively advancing” its plan to break up the European Union and build the so-called “Beijing-Moscow-Berlin” axis.

One of the factors on the Kremlin's path, according to Danilov, is the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

Oleksiy Danilov
NSDC secretary

And it is advancing quite actively (Putin along the “Beijing-Moscow-Berlin” axis — ed.), it does not stop. And this is not just my understanding; any person with logic sees what is happening. Lately I divide partners into (undiplomatically, but as it is) those who act actively, and those who watch to see how it all will end. For seven years the Germans and French, two countries that are negotiators with Putin and with Ukraine, have been leading us around the “Minsk process.” They say: “Putin does not admit that they are the aggressor.” So wait, you need glasses — what else do you need to do to see that this is Russian aggression, occupation of the territory of a sovereign country in the 21st century?! What else is unclear to anyone?

According to him, the looming danger from the Kremlin could lead to “us returning to the fascist dictatorship that existed in Germany in the 1930s.”

Danilov also responded that the West cannot reproach Ukraine for failing to carry out judicial reform, since it is defending Europe from invasion and has lost 14,000 people.

Oleksiy Danilov
NSDC secretary

14,000 citizens of our country have died for our independence! Who can reproach anyone?! Today we are defending Europe from this invasion. Don't they see this, don't they understand? If we, God forbid, lose, will they be next? They (Russia — ed.) will be in your Warsaw, in Vilnius, in European cities. Don't you understand this? Then one must be completely blind and not understand what is happening.

Danilov also said that he expects more active steps from the West, rather than a reaction of “we are concerned” to human rights violations in occupied Crimea.

Oleksiy Danilov
NSDC secretary

We rely primarily on ourselves and on our true partners. I was very pleased and very surprised when so many partners supported the “Crimea Platform.” But now there must be action. You can see what is happening in Crimea now. Human rights violations, people are being taken to prison, people are left with no opportunity to live, they are being tortured. And this phrase “we are concerned,” I think today, is too little for all this to continue in the modern world.

On the Zelensky-Poroshenko conflict

Danilov also answered a question about whether there is an “interpersonal conflict” between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his predecessor Petro Poroshenko. 

Oleksiy Danilov
NSDC secretary  

Petro Oleksiyovych needs to decide. He is a businessman, or he is a politician. When a person decides, everything will fall into place very quickly. Because those things that were done during Petro Oleksiyovych's time... I'm not saying he did them. But tell me, please, how could Viktor Medvedchuk, an apologist for the “Russian world,” Putin's confidant, have taken possession during Petro Oleksiyovych's time of our common property — a pipe through which a certain product was pumped? Tell me, please, could this have happened without Petro Oleksiyovych? I can give you an answer: no! The projects are too big.

On the transformation of Ukraine's capital into a backwater

In addition, the NSDC secretary spoke about his agency's reaction to the demolition of historic buildings in Kyiv, in particular the demolition of the Barban Estate. In his view, local authorities are turning Kyiv into a “backwater.” 

Oleksiy Danilov
NSDC secretary  

The NSDC asked: good people, stop mocking what is our heritage, finally make a list of these objects, draw a red line, you cannot hand over land to your deputies so they can build all these skyscrapers in place of these houses. The city has been turned into who knows what! Look what a magical city it was. And now you drive and there are just ugly eyesores standing! Friends, we need to stop! Where is Kyiv's chief architect? Do you know his surname? Previously the chief architect's surname was second after the mayor. Tell me, please, can you name Kyiv's chief architect today?

Danilov also explained that deputies of the Kyiv City Council also bear responsibility for what is happening with Kyiv City State Administration head Vladimir Klitschko in Kyiv.