Interview of Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, to the Eastern European Bureau Report.
- Relative stability has been observed in Ukraine at the front for more than 7 months. For example, Russia has not been able to capture the city of Bakhmut for 6 months, and the Ukrainian army took a long pause in the counteroffensive. How can this be explained?
— War is a difficult matter. The military has instructions received from the president, which are quite simple and clear - to liberate all our territories, including Crimea, from terrorist aggressors. They will do it together with our people. It remains only to wait, be patient and victory will be ours.
- You recently made a statement about presenting a major counteroffensive plan to the president. You said that even your partners do not know about the content of this plan. Is there a possibility that the partners will remain dissatisfied after the implementation of the plan itself or certain aspects of it, and this will lead to a reduction in military assistance?
- We defend our independence and are aware of our responsibility for liberating our territories from occupation. As for partners, we cooperate with them, and they provide us with a lot of help. When we talk about specific plans, we mean that they are closed, secret, if someone thinks that plans with the stamp "Top secret" are revealed to anyone, then he is mistaken. There is no such thing anywhere in the world. General questions - yes, but specific plans - no, they must remain confidential. This does not indicate a lack of trust and cooperation between us. Everything is different. The military has several options for action, and which one will be used for a particular operation depends on many factors. If someone says they know the location of the operation, they are lying.
Is a counterattack expected before the summer?
- I do not use the term "counterattack". Instead, I use the term "military action", which has been in use since February 2014. The military knows exactly what to do. They are professionals and proved to the whole world that our army is ready for battle. Moreover, we strike the enemy where he least expects it. I think it will be the same this time.
That is, can we expect a counterattack in the near future?
- The concept of "nearest time" is different for everyone. For some it is a day or two, for some it is a week or a month. The main thing is the result. We have to liberate our territories. Actions will begin at the right time, taking into account all factors. Not earlier and not later, but exactly on time.
You can often hear that the combat operations of the Ukrainian army are more active in the spring and summer, and not in the winter...
- By winter, we want to completely end the war...
— Will the war end with the full restoration of the territorial integrity of Ukraine, in particular the liberation of Crimea?
— We have a joint plan — to liberate all our territories from the terrorists who attacked us. The only question is time. Whether one or more operations will be performed depends on many circumstances. We will not be limited by time, we will fight as long as it takes.
— A few days ago, the Kremlin was attacked by drones, and Russia blamed Ukraine for it. How would you comment on these allegations? Could this become a basis for tougher attacks on Ukraine, including the use of nuclear weapons? Also, what can you say about the use of Iranian drones by the Russian Armed Forces to attack Ukraine?
— I want to emphasize that no one declared war on Russia, they started a war against us in 2014. We did not attack anyone, on the contrary, an attack was made on our lands and territories, established in international documents in 1991. If someone wants to blame someone else for the future collapse of their country, that's their problem, not ours.
They can do anything. If they use nuclear weapons, the reaction of the whole world will be completely different.
As for cooperation between Russia and Iran in the issue of drones, this is a matter for the world community. Iran has been under sanctions since 1979, and if, while under sanctions, it can produce drones using components from the world's leading manufacturers, who should be asking questions and who should be answering them? We would really like for there to be no double standards and for all countries to follow international rules without exception.
— Do you expect attacks from the territory of Belarus? It can be noted that Lukashenka's statements in recent days differ from those previously announced.
— Lukashenko is a hostage of the Kremlin and is in a very difficult situation. We do not think that Russia will demand that Lukashenka attack Ukraine. Lukashenko and his military know perfectly well how this will end. Because there will be internal resistance in Belarus. And I want to remind you that there are many Belarusian patriots fighting for our country on the territory of Ukraine. If someone thinks that Lukashenko will give an order and it will be carried out, he is mistaken.
— But what about the three-month exercises using drones in Belarus?
— Currently, we do not see a threat of an attack from the territory of Belarus. We'll see what happens tomorrow.
