‘Remember Putin is a KGB officer’: Ukraine’s ex-leader fears Russia is playing Zelenskyy

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Nationwide unity

Each Poroshenko and Zelenskyy stayed on the identical resort through the Munich Safety Convention final week — however their paths didn’t cross.

“I've solely spoken with him 3 times the previous seven years,” Poroshenko mentioned. The final time was greater than a 12 months in the past and “we mentioned his so-called victory plan and I advised him to not fear and that we might again it as he’s the commander-in-chief. Sadly, that was final time we spoke,” he mentioned.

Poroshenko and Zelenskyy harbor deep animosity towards one another and traded fierce barbs through the 2019 election marketing campaign. However, Zelenskyy received by a landslide after saying he might settle the battle with Russia by direct talks with Putin, and by reaching out to younger voters by way of social networks with nice success.

Ukrainian prosecutors, appointed by Zelenskyy, then ensnared Poroshenko within the courts, charging him with severe crimes, together with treason, conspiracy and corruption. Poroshenko says all the costs are trumped up, and he’s assured that on March 6, the nation’s Supreme Courtroom will rule them unlawful and unconstitutional.

Following a collection of current corruption scandals which have compelled the departure of Zelenskyy’s chief of workers Andriy Yermak, and amid rising criticism of democratic backsliding, Ukraine’s politics have change into more and more fragile, he argued.

Now, Zelenskyy is going through a parliamentary disaster, with greater than 20 of his Servant of the Folks lawmakers beneath investigation for taking bribes to safe votes, which might deprive the president of a parliamentary majority.

“Parliament is now within the very deep disaster,” Poroshenko mentioned. “And due to that, he may have no possibility however to type a authorities of nationwide unity. I don't put ahead any precondition. I don’t want any place within the authorities, however it's turning into a query of whether or not Ukraine will survive or not.”