Billionaire Rinat Akhmetov, despised for this long-time support of the ousted President Viktor Yanukovych, renewed his call today for negotiations as Ukraine's military offensive made gains over the weekend with the liberation of former Donetsk Oblast separatist strongholds Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. Yanukovych, overthrown on Feb. 22 by the EuroMaidan Revolution and now hiding in Russia from mass murder and other charges, is suspected of helping to finance the Kremlin-backed separatists who have been waging war against Ukraine for more than three months in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, home to 15 percent of the nation. Initially Akhmetov, who does substantial business with Russia, did not publicly condemn the pro-Russian insurgents, but in recent weeks has come out strongly in favor of a unified Ukraine and against separatism. Because of his wealth and his employment of 300,000 people, many believe Akhmetov can influence how the conflict ends.
The following is a transcript of Akhmetov’s interview to Ukraina TV channel provided by his press service.
http://www.scmholding.com/en/media-centre/news/view/1577/
Q.: Rinat Leonidovych, yesterday Slavyansk was liberated but the militants moved to Donetsk. Today peaceful residents are afraid that the situation will repeat itself in Donetsk and they are feared of going outside… What is your vision of the situation?
A: Donetsk must not be bombed. Donbass must not be bombed. Cities, towns and infrastructure must not be destroyed. Most importantly, we must avoid suffering and deaths of peaceful people. Donetsk is the capital of Donbass and Donbass is a symbol of labor.
It is home to strong, hardworking and good people; proud, brave and warm-hearted people. But most importantly, they are peaceful people.
For this reason I want to say again that Donetsk must not be bombed. Donbass must not be bombed.
Q: And how can we resolve the situation in the east then?
A: Negotiations, negotiations and negotiations again. There is no other way. You will remember my words: everything will eventually end through negotiations, everything will end with peace! But just tell me who will return sons to their mothers, who will return husbands to their wives and who will return fathers to their children?
I do not want coffins to be brought back to the western Ukraine. I do not want coffins to be brought back to the central Ukraine and other regions of our country! I do not want people to be killed in Donbass!
That is why I have always called for peace and will keep calling for peace!
Q: Is peace possible in Donbass?
A: I strongly believe that it is. I am for a happy Donbass! And a happy Donbass is firstly when you live in peace. Peace is the most important. A happy Donbass is when people have good employment, good salary and a good life. A happy Donbass is when we are respected; when people honor our heritage, our right to speak the Russian language, as well as our holidays, traditions and our ambitions. Personally I see a happy Donbass only in the united Ukraine.
