Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada: Ukraine wins in the information war with Russia Monday, July 4, 2016 12:29:11 PM

Evidence of the effectiveness of Ukraine's efforts in the diplomatic and information fields is the extension of sanctions against Russia, Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andriy Parubiy said.

In an interview with Apostrophe, Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Andriy Parubiy said that Ukraine won the information war with Russia.

“Two years ago, the skeptics were convinced that the European Union would never impose sanctions against Russia. A few months ago there was a huge debate, and now, a few weeks before the decision, we understand that the sanctions will be extended. This will be a great victory for Ukrainian diplomacy, which has to oppose a Russian diplomacy that has far more resources. Ukraine demonstrates the ability to convince its European partners. I believe that Ukraine wins,” Parubiy said.

He urged the deputies of all factions to adhere to a single, consistent position of the country on countering the aggressor during international meetings.

“Not every MP who travels abroad knows detailed statistics on how many people died in the Donbas region, how many internally displaced persons there are today in Ukraine, how many laws were adopted concerning immigrants. Parliament must speak in one voice on the issues of national interest, especially abroad. And I call on deputies to uphold this,” the speaker said.

“Russia broadcasts its messages very powerfully, through all its channels. The key Russian message in respect to Ukraine is next: ‘Ukraine is incapable of any reforms. Ukraine is not a state. Ukraine cannot solve problems.’ The conclusion from all the messages looks like this: ‘give us back the influence over Ukraine and there will be stability.’ Accordingly, the Ukrainian voice should sound powerfully, saying that Russia is an aggressor, that Russian troops are on the territory of Ukraine, and that Russia destroys international order and security,” he added.

Economic sanctions against Russia were imposed by the United States, the European Union and other countries in 2014 after the annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of hostilities in the Donbas region. Sanction packages have already been expanded and tightened several times.

On July 1, the European Union officially announced the extension of the anti-Russian sanctions until January 31, 2017.

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