“Yes, it was as if a deal had been reached between Prigozhin and Putin after the coup, but we see the result. It is the reality of Russia, it is how the Russian power vertical works, it is impossible to reach an agreement,” the ambassador relayed the views of Ukrainian media and bloggers.
He also explained that there would be no public events on the Ukrainian public holiday, August 24, on the contrary: people are warned not to gather in big measures because Russia can use them to try to kill Ukrainian civilians.
“The main task is to win the war, and the focus is on ending the war. On the front, there is progress, although it is slower than many would like to see,” the ambassador said.
The diplomat disagreed that asking for help would have exhausted Ukraine or the West: “In the media environment, opinions appear that the West gives arms to Ukraine so much that it can defend itself, but not enough for Ukraine to win a swift, decisive victory. But Ukrainians are grateful for what is being given.”
The last decision of the Netherlands and Denmark to give destroyers F-16 to Ukraine is also very significant, Kļava said.
Ukraine's presidential elections are scheduled for next year, but the ambassador pointed out that according to Ukraine's constitution, they cannot be held under the conditions of war – the state of war has been extended until November and can be expected to be extended further.
“The elections are likely to be postponed, but we don't yet know what will happen until March next year. In October this year, for example, there were parliamentary elections scheduled, but clearly it can't be done in the war. There are purely legal and practical barriers,” the ambassador said.
