Ashton: Ukraine, its people forever lost for Russia

The former EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, is convinced that by launching its war of aggression, Russia has irrevocably lost Ukraine and its people.

The former European Commissioner stated this in an interview with APA.

"A country is being lost not only because it cannot be captured militarily, but also because people there see you as an aggressor, not a friend," said Ashton, who represented the European Union’s foreign policy from 2009 to 2014 and previously met with Putin several times.

She pointed out that, after the Kremlin unleashed the war, Ukrainians think nothing positive about Russia. "If he (Kremlin dictator Putin - ed.) ever thought that Russia's invasion of Ukraine would lead to Ukraine having warm and positive feelings towards Russia and wanting much closer relations with Russia, then you can just look at what happened with the people of Ukraine," Ashton said.

Ashton recalled that due to the Russian war, many Ukrainians lost their loved ones and were forced to flee the country along with their children. "Why should they think anything positive about Russia? Why should they feel that Russia is interested in supporting and helping?" she added.

The former head of the EU's foreign policy agency emphasized the inadmissibility of the Kremlin dictator's desire "to force Ukraine to either be a part of Russia or look up only to Russia."

When asked what Europe should do in this situation, Ashton noted the importance of continuing to support Ukraine: "Support Ukraine, even if you believe that negotiations are the best way forward."

According to her, the negotiations, if the Ukrainians want them, should also be conducted from a position of strength. "Ukraine must be as strong as possible," the former EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy emphasized.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, Ukraine’s Mission to the OSCE stated that the decision to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine was a strategic disaster for Russia, but the Kremlin still refuses to recognize this and pursues the war effort, sparing no human lives.