Poroshenko Explained Why Ukraine Urgently Needs to Renew Dialogue with China
During a special broadcast on the “Pryamiy” and “Channel 5” TV channels marking the anniversary of the full-scale invasion, Petro Poroshenko stated that Ukraine urgently needs to renew dialogue with China. He reminded that in 2023, China proposed its peace plan, which the authorities rejected.
“Why are we not utilizing the opportunities from China? Brazil? Exactly on February 24, 2023, China put forward its peace proposals to stop the war. What was there? Position number one, according to China, was the immediate, comprehensive, and unconditional ceasefire, which could be ensured simply by stopping the supply of components to the Russian defense industry. Second, the unconditional guarantee of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Third, guaranteed cessation of shelling of critical energy infrastructure, including nuclear power plants. What was Ukraine’s response? It did not align with Ukrainian interests, said the Ukrainian authorities. Why? It was a ‘pro-Russian version.’ They rejected it, pushed it away. Now we urgently need to renew the dialogue with China,” Poroshenko believes.
“We need absolutely specific things. Learn from the experience in preparing the Minsk agreements. What did we start with? An unconditional, comprehensive ceasefire. No one can be against a ceasefire. Don’t discuss anything else,” urged Poroshenko.
“If the Russians are not ready to do this, and Putin only understands the language of force – Americans, please give ‘Tomahawks’. Germans, please give ‘Tauruses’. NATO countries, please provide air defense. Give joint production of Patriot missiles as the only effective means against ballistic threats. And as soon as Putin pays the price, when there are real attacks on the fuel and energy industry objects of Russia, it will be much closer to a ceasefire,” said Poroshenko.
“Ask China. We are ready to agree to the conditions proposed by China earlier. And supported by Brazil. Who, when was the last time someone from the Ukrainian authorities visited China? No one. Do we have the luxury to ignore the second economy, which is currently a key factor in pressing Russia? I think this is short-sighted,” Poroshenko believes.
Petro Poroshenko on the Start of the Invasion: We Did Not Lose Thanks to the Ukrainian People
During a special broadcast on the TV channels “Pryamyi” and “Channel 5” for the anniversary of the full-scale invasion, Petro Poroshenko stated that the country was able to withstand these four years thanks to the Ukrainian people.
“I think February 24 is a day you will never forget. It’s four in the morning, a red phone, you wake up to explosions, to calls. A burning Boryspil on one side, a burning Vasylkiv on the other, bomb strikes on airports. And shocked people,” Poroshenko recalled the first hours of the invasion.
He also remembered how at least six months before the invasion, he tried to reach out to the authorities and explained that it was necessary to prepare for a possible major war. “What else was I supposed to say? Deploy two airborne brigades that were there with me to the Chonhar direction, just don’t take them away from there. Deploy a brigade in Ovruch because the strike will be launched from Belarusian territory. To which I was told, ‘we spoke with the Belarusian Minister of Defense, he promised there would be no strike.’ When I say – protect the Chernobyl station and deploy a brigade in the Chernihiv region. When I say, reinforce the first-line reserves, that’s 80 thousand servicemen, the main combat brigades. Give 40 billion to the territorial communities – with weapons, with drones, with bulletproof vests, with everything for deploying territorial defense units. Imagine how different the first days of the war would have been. The enemy would have been stopped at Chonhar, the enemy would have been stopped at the Belarusian border,” said the fifth President.
“Do not ignore the warnings of our partners, and instead of arguing about the reliability of intelligence information, please get air defense and shoot down all helicopters crossing Ukraine’s airspace. That’s what we said,” Poroshenko reminded.
“When we proposed a detailed package in parliament, 60 billion UAH plus 40. 60 – for the Armed Forces, for reinforcement – 40. It was a clash of two ideologies. One ideology – army, language, faith. The other ideology – ‘what’s the difference.’ And we paid a terrible price for this ideology,” Poroshenko stated.
“And why didn’t we lose? We didn’t lose precisely because the Ukrainian people didn’t let it happen. Queues at military commissariats. And the determination and unity with which we stood from the first hours. I will never in my life forget two thousand people in our yard on Lavrska, who came to enlist in the first 8 hours because the military commissariats were closed. The people stayed to defend. That’s why we didn’t lose,” Poroshenko explained.
“During the 5 years of my tenure, we created the Armed Forces. A nation was born. The language was protected, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine was established. And the nation truly demonstrated not only that Putin was wrong, but that our partners were wrong. We didn’t intend to surrender. We are a free, freedom-loving, European, and invincible nation,” said Poroshenko.
Petro Poroshenko: We will not allow the elections to be falsified
During a special broadcast on TV channels “Pryamiy” and “5 Channel,” Petro Poroshenko explained why elections during martial law are impossible.
“No elections during the period of martial law. Martial law is designed to limit the constitutional rights and freedoms of citizens. And during martial law, it is impossible to ensure the free expression of citizens’ will. Therefore, the elections will not meet EU standards, which we are moving towards,” Poroshenko explains.
“There’s no need to speculate now about who and when will announce the elections. We must ensure a ceasefire. A ceasefire necessarily involves the termination of martial law. The termination of martial law guarantees the immediate announcement of parliamentary elections in 60 days. Because back in 2023, the powers of the parliament expired. And presidential elections in 90 days since presidential powers already expired almost two years ago in May 2024. Moreover, presidential powers are not subject to extension. The Constitution states this clearly. Therefore, conduct parliamentary elections, conduct presidential elections after 30 days. Ensure the presence of observers. And this will be a powerful democratic step,” believes Petro Poroshenko.
“We will not allow the elections to be falsified,” warned the opposition leader.
“And secondly, under no circumstances should you try to combine elections with a referendum. Because, firstly, it is constitutionally prohibited to hold a referendum on issues of territorial structure, state sovereignty, and territorial integrity. So don’t violate the Constitution. No one will recognize this. And secondly, do not attempt to use the referendum as a PR tool, going to the people and saying ‘friends, are you for peace? Do you want the country to be in the European Union now? Vote for the current government and everything will be fine.’ This is a lie. This is manipulation. This is an IPSO. And it is dishonest,” emphasized Poroshenko.
Poroshenko explained where to get the money for preparation for the next winter
Petro Poroshenko called on the government to urgently organize financing for the preparation of the energy sector for the upcoming winter. According to the fifth President, the government should issue targeted government bonds and use these funds to ensure the modernization and protection of the energy system by autumn.
“It is necessary to immediately organize a government decision and issue government domestic loan bonds, targeted at the protection of critical infrastructure facilities. Not for misappropriation, but transparently, under effective audit. Possibly involving our partners who will ensure the effective use of every penny,” said the fifth President.
“If anyone is interested, I can tell you the maximum price of one megawatt of capacity if you purchase honestly. It will be 30-40% cheaper than what they buy for. By the way, allow taking a loan for both sovereign states and through direct foreign investments, as these will be investments in energy,” Petro Poroshenko explains.
“Direct all this not only to generation but also to spare parts and a repair fund for transformer substations, networks. Raise this money by April. Deliver all necessary components by September. And enter the season at the end of September. These are Poroshenko’s proposals. And what are your proposals? Finish submitting proposals for the winter preparation plan by the end of August. And what will you do with these proposals then? It doesn’t matter. Fool people once again? We cannot lose a single day,” Poroshenko addressed the government.
Poroshenko also shared his experience of installing 100 megawatts of capacity with private funds: “We found an opportunity to purchase gas piston power plants, an opportunity to purchase solar panels. We found an opportunity to purchase powerful batteries, modern technologies, generators. Even 5 MW wind power plants. And the total amount is 100 MW, and the state could not do even 10 times more, the entire state.”
He also noted that decentralized energy is more protected from missile attacks: “It is very easy for Putin to hit large thermal power plants, and very difficult to find where mobile containers are located to ensure electricity production.”
“Even here we had problems with the state, we had problems with technical conditions for gas connection, we had problems with not receiving financing in full. But we did it. If we had a diversified system of gas piston stations, we wouldn’t have faced the critical cold famine that Kyiv and many other residents of Ukraine faced,” said Poroshenko.
“We know what to do. Why am I saying this? To give people hope. We just need to work competently, effectively, honestly, and transparently. So submit proposals to parliament. Or, if you want, we will submit them, vote on them. And people need to be protected next winter,” Petro Poroshenko emphasizes.
Full video of the special broadcast
