Questions of historical truth and the situation in the Donbass: what Putin and Zelensky discussed during a telephone conversation

On Friday, February 14, the presidents of Russia and Ukraine Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Zelensky held their first telephone conversation in 2020. It was held at the initiative of Kiev. According to the Kremlin’s press service, the heads of state discussed various aspects of resolving the intra-Ukrainian conflict.

“The President of Russia emphasized the importance of the full and unconditional implementation of the Minsk complex of measures and decisions adopted at the summits in the Norman format, including in Paris on December 9, 2019. In connection with the well-known statements of the representatives of the Ukrainian leadership, Vladimir Putin directly raised the question of whether Kiev intends to really implement the Minsk agreements, ”the statement said.

In addition, the leaders touched on the maintenance of a stable ceasefire, the further separation of forces and assets on the contact line and mine clearance work. In addition, the interlocutors indicated their readiness to continue joint work to release the detainees and exchange them.

Recall that following the summit of the "Norman Four" a joint statement was signed, consisting of three points. One of them speaks of the need to implement the political provisions of the Minsk agreements. In particular, we are talking about the need to agree on the details of the law on the special status of certain regions of Donetsk and Lugansk regions in the Norman format and in the tripartite group, and then ensure its operation on an ongoing basis.

• Vladimir Putin, Emmanuel Macron, Vladimir Zelensky and Angela Merkel during a meeting in Norman format at the Champs Elysees
• RIA News
• © Alexey Nikolsky

According to RT, Vladimir Olenchenko, chief researcher at the Center for European Studies at IMEMO RAS, there is hope that Kiev will fulfill its obligations.

“At least in words, Zelensky publicly speaks out for the implementation of the Minsk agreements. In practice, this is progressing with difficulty, ”he explained.

In turn, political scientist and economist Alexander Dudchak pointed out that the Ukrainian side has not actually changed its approach to the republics of Donbass.

“Now Kiev, apparently, does nothing at all. At first, the breeding process was demonstrated, some areas for breeding were planned, but in the end it ended up that the APU reduced the distance from the positions of the LPR and DNR army to 150-200 m, there are dead people, shelling of the republic’s territories does not stop. It is unclear whether Ukraine is trying to fulfill what it promised to fulfill, ”the source said.

“Inadmissibility of distortion of historical truth”

Another topic of conversation between Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Zelensky was the historical issue affecting the Great Patriotic War and World War II.

"In the context of the upcoming 75th anniversary of the Great Victory, the Russian side emphasizes the contribution of all the peoples of the USSR to the defeat of Nazi Germany and points out the inadmissibility of distorting the historical truth about the events of the Second World War," the Kremlin said.

On January 27, Vladimir Zelensky at a briefing following a meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda said that the "collusion of totalitarian regimes" - the USSR and Nazi Germany - led to the outbreak of World War II and the Holocaust. In addition, the first president of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk, referring to a document, said that Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin allegedly met in person in Lviv before the outbreak of World War II. Later, the ex-head of the Ukrainian state shifted responsibility for the accuracy of this information to the media, in which he read about this “fact”.

“When Zelensky came to Poland, he allowed distortions and interpretations. The main thing is that he agreed with the Polish president that the USSR and Germany bear equal responsibility for the outbreak of World War II. Therefore, it is logical, timely and correct to point to Zelensky that he admits blasphemous distortions of history, ”said Olenchenko.

At the same time, Alexander Dudchak emphasized that the speech of the President of Ukraine in Poland could not go unnoticed.

“Of course, Putin could not help but recall this. To allow myself such a lie ... It is not clear why Zelensky was following some European politicians who are trying to rewrite history. Moreover, in Ukraine there was a powerful wave of indignation, Zelensky was remembered for whom his grandfather had fought, ”the political scientist said.

Condolences for the accident near Pskov

In addition to discussing bilateral issues, Vladimir Putin also expressed his condolences to his colleague in connection with the deaths of Ukrainian citizens in a major accident near Pskov. On the night of February 13, in the Pustoshkinsky district of the Pskov region, eight Ukrainians died as a result of a head-on collision of a minibus and a truck.