Ukrainian businessman Rinat Akhmetov on Friday issued a statement on the situation in the country. Interfax-Ukraine is providing its full text:
“SCM has expressed its position in the first days of the worsening of
the situation in Kyiv. And I, as an SCM stakeholder, fully share it.
In these days, many people want to know my personal attitude. My
position is the following: Ukraine and the president have walked the
European road for over the last three-and-a-half years. And very much
has been done over this period.
The [association] agreement was not signed in Vilnius. And everybody
asked a question – what happened? Did Ukraine take a pause? Did Ukraine
stop? Or did Ukraine choose another road? Everyone wants to have
clarity. People started searching for answers to these questions and
went to the Maidan.
The fact that peaceful people came to peaceful rallies indicates that
Ukraine is a free and democratic country. And Ukraine will not swerve
from this road. And it’s great.
But the fact that people suffered in these days is unacceptable. I am
confident that now it is a difficult moment for our country, and it is
very important to have a cool head and a balanced approach. In short,
common sense should win.
I am for a strong, independent and united Ukraine. We are one country, and it cannot be divided.
I am for the negotiating table. Politicians, the authorities, the
opposition and the moral leaders of the country should sit at the
negotiating table and take the decision of which we will be proud.
Again, proud, not ashamed. The decision from which every Ukrainian and
Ukraine will benefit in the short, medium and long term.
I would call this table a table of peace, compromise, and the future of our country.
And let the politicians lose their ratings at this table. But the most important thing is that Ukraine’s rating goes up.”
