Bodnar: Business as usual with Russia without punishment for crimes in Ukraine will cause new aggression
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Turkey Vasyl Bodnar said during a panel discussion on topical issues raised by Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The panel was organized by the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV) in Ankara, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
"An important question is what will happen next, what will be the future of Russia. Do you really think about doing business as usual? Do you really think that it is possible to work with Russian business, society, and the military, given the commission and support for crimes committed in Ukraine? Obviously, it is not. Our intention is to conduct 'de-Putinization' and bring Russia to justice for all the war crimes committed in Ukraine," Bodnar said.
Responding to comments that Russia's attack on Ukraine resulted in hostility toward the Russian people at the international level, Ukraine's Ambassador to Turkey noted that the current war was the responsibility not only of Putin, but also of all those who decided to prepare, launch and wage it, and military decisions were supported by a large part of the Russian people. In particular, this is evidenced by the intercepted conversations between the Russian military and their relatives in Russia.
"It is very important to show Russian society the truth by destroying created myths. Their propaganda spreads exclusively narratives of victory, omnipotence and interprets all actions as victorious. This requires appropriate work with Russia in the future, which concerns not only Ukraine but also hostile actions against other countries. If leave the things as they are, the aggression may recur," the diplomat said.
Bodnar stressed that responsibility for Russia's war crimes in Ukraine should be borne not only by the direct perpetrators, but also by those whose actions contributed to them – opinion leaders, media, politicians, and others responsible for promoting negative attitudes towards Ukraine and aggressive policies.
At the meeting, which was attended by ambassadors accredited in Turkey and former Turkish ambassadors to various countries, Bodnar also stressed that Russia did not comply with any international obligations and previously signed agreements, following the codes of conduct of the 16th and 17th centuries.
On February 24, Russian president Putin started the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops shell and destroy infrastructure, massively fire on residential areas of Ukrainian cities, towns, and villages using artillery, MLRS, and ballistic missiles, commit war crimes, in particular against civilians.
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