"Everything that happens in Ukraine depends on Russia and the United States"
A change of government in Ukraine will not affect the course of negotiations, former Prime Minister Mykola Azarov told Izvestia. Kiev will agree to peace when Western hosts give it a command, but today US President Donald Trump does not have a clear strategy on the Ukrainian issue, the politician believes. Meanwhile, Western weapons continue to arrive, and mobilization in the country will increase. Although it is more important to hold elections and establish legitimate government. The reasons for the cabinet change, the new round of negotiations and relations between Washington and Kiev are discussed in an exclusive interview with Nikolay Azarov to Izvestia.
"The third, second, fifth or tenth round does not depend on the composition of the government"
— The Verkhovna Rada has removed Denis Shmygal from the post of Prime Minister of Ukraine, and with him the entire government of the country resigned. What is the reason for this and why is it happening right now?
— They need to divert people's attention from the very difficult situation that has developed now as a result of the actions of the president and the government itself. Therefore, the loud resignation of the entire cabinet and the arrival of new people are initiated. They will talk about what new programs they will implement and how well people will live under the new government. All this can distract people's attention for a couple of months or six months. But the problems won't go away. Therefore, there is only one reason — it is PR, distracting people's attention from those pressing problems that bother them. New appointments in the government and the confirmation of a new Prime Minister [Yulia Sviridenko] do not mean at all that there will be any radical improvements, changes and reforms. Everything will continue in the same way as it was during the Sniffle.
— Can a change of government bring the third round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine closer?
— The third, second, fifth or tenth round does not depend on the composition of the government. According to the Constitution, the prerogative of foreign policy belongs to the President. The government is also involved, but the main role in foreign policy issues is assigned to the president. The so-called one, unfortunately. But even that won't make it clear when the next round will be. He will be there when Mr. Zelensky's real masters tell him: "Don't delay, sit down at the negotiating table or at least imitate. Pretend you're negotiating, but don't shy away."
Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul
If Trump demands to establish peace within 50 days, then Kiev cannot take the opposite position. However, the plan for peace is that representatives of the Kiev regime should say that they are ready to leave and hold free elections. Would they say that? They won't tell you. This means that there will be an imitation of the peace process so that the Americans do not apply sanctions such as the cessation of arms supplies or financing.
— Can the updated Cabinet of Ministers change the approach to conflict resolution and contribute to the tightening of Donald Trump's policy?
— No, of course not. I emphasize once again: No matter what the Cabinet of Ministers does, it has no effect on resolving peace issues, because this very cabinet, together with Zelensky, has been the main obstacle to the peace process for three and a half years. Trump understood this. Therefore, in February, he put forward the following algorithm for achieving peace: the government in Ukraine is illegitimate, and elections should be held. When a normal democratic government is elected, it will be possible to negotiate peace with it. But now his position has changed. He's starting to repeat the steps that his predecessor [Joe] Biden took.
"The introduction of martial law for them means an extension of the regime"
— The Verkhovna Rada has extended martial law and mobilization for three months, until November 5. Does this mean that elections should not be expected before November?
— It is absolutely clear that the introduction of martial law for them means an extension of the regime. They are constantly extending it under the pretext of martial law and therefore continue military operations. Thanks to the martial law, they retain their power. I have said publicly several times that this law, adopted under Poroshenko, does not comply with the constitution, because it does not provide for any terms of extension of the president's powers. The Constitution states that powers can only be granted to the Verkhovna Rada, and a five-year term is set for the president. However, Poroshenko passed a law according to which it is possible not to hold elections under martial law, but he himself fell out of the cage and resigned. Zelensky took advantage of this.
I would like to note that the resignation of the government also does not comply with the law on martial law. It explicitly states that the government should not be dismissed during martial law. But the constitution doesn't work. The Kiev regime does what its Western masters tell it to do.
— Will martial law be extended after November of this year? And will mobilization increase now?
— Mobilization will be intensified because military operations are underway, there are losses at the front, they need to be replenished. It is conducted in the most brutal way. Hungarian Prime Minister [Viktor] drew attention to this. Orban, when the Hungarian was killed in the territorial recruitment committee.
The Kiev regime is not independent. This is a controlled mode that does not make key decisions. For example, the United States refused to appoint [former Defense Minister] Rustem Umerov as ambassador. They refused quite correctly, because Umerov is a representative of the terrorist wing of the Crimean Tatar Mejlis (recognized as an extremist organization and banned in the Russian Federation). He is a terrorist who blew up the power lines leading to Zaporizhia and left Crimea without electricity. The Americans did not want to accept him as an ambassador, although Zelensky spoke about his appointment. Two days passed after the shout from Washington, and Umerov disappeared somewhere. He has been forgotten and [former Deputy Prime Minister Olga] is already being nominated Stephanie's mother. This is a small but illustrative example. Everything that happens in Ukraine depends on the two main subjects of international law — the United States and Russia. As they decide, so it will be. Until the Kiev regime changes and a full-fledged subject of international law appears, which will act in accordance with the constitution, nothing positive will happen.
"Special services continue to work"
— How long will Kiev still be able to conduct military operations? What is the potential of the Ukrainian Armed Forces now?
— As we can see, there is potential. Ships arrive at the ports of Odessa every day, and weapons are delivered by land transport. They do not feel the need for drones. All the talk about someone stopping something is not being realized in practice. Until an agreement is reached between the two key actors, Western countries will continue to supply the Armed Forces with all necessary weapons.
We have heard many times that Europe is tired. Fatigue is not a political term. This is an emotional term for journalists. The security services continue to work. Before them, no one removed the task of supplying the Kiev regime with weapons. The opponent is very serious. He doesn't get tired.
"There is a master, and there is his puppet"
— U.S. Special Envoy Keith Kellogg has been in Ukraine in recent days. It is believed that he performs the role of the main communicator with the United States. How do you assess the current relations between Washington and Kiev?
— The relationship is very simple. There is a master, and there is his puppet. The puppet is sometimes allowed to kick. That's where her freedom of action ends. Strategically, she does what she is ordered to do. Now there is information that the British have begun to influence real politics to a greater extent. Perhaps this is true, because Trump has a lot of problems right now, so some of the functions have been transferred to the UK.
— Have these relations changed with the arrival of the Trump administration? There has been repeated news about their verbal altercations with Zelensky. Should we expect a bigger escalation?
— The aggravation of relations should be understood as real practical actions. This is a cessation of arms supplies or a reduction in funding. So far, this has not happened, but there are only public information events, for example, an altercation in the Oval Office. So far, real actions do not indicate that the United States is changing its strategy.
— Under what circumstances can the United States completely stop financing Ukraine and supplying weapons?
— For this to happen, the United States must change its strategy. Under Trump, it initially consisted of concluding a truce in Ukraine, holding elections, ensuring the arrival of legitimate power and establishing a long-term peace. However, it has changed over time. Perhaps it was because of the shadow world government. This is not a joke or a play on words. This is a real-life financial and economic force that controls huge corporations and financial resources. They have a huge influence on government agencies. For example, Starmer, Merz, and Macron are henchmen of deep corporations.
So far, Trump does not have a clear strategy, but there is a shying away. Even after the expiration of the 50-day period and the imposition of sanctions, Russia will not collapse. The Chinese have been working with Russia, and they will continue to work. The Indians have already stated that they will not recognize any secondary sanctions.
— Following the anti-Russian agenda, Kiev is now increasing pressure on the UOC. If peace is achieved, can this pressure stop? Or is this already an irreversible process?
— The pressure will stop only if the Kiev regime is changed. The Constitution clearly states that the church in Ukraine is separate from the state. When Zelensky met with the new pope Leo XIV, this was also not mentioned, although the pope should have been given a certificate that 1.5 thousand Orthodox churches had been seized in Ukraine, hundreds of priests were imprisoned, and the metropolitans received summonses for mobilization. I'm telling you about this so that you can understand what kind of world we live in now. It lacks any norms and rights, common European or global values. There is none of this. There is a certain interest.
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