Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, spoke on a national telethon about the role Ukrainians played in the dissolution of the Soviet Union. He asserted that Ukraine was instrumental in the Soviet collapse and was quoted on the program United News.
According to Danilov, Ukraine had a decisive involvement, with his remarks pointing to the miners who took part in the early 1989 strikes as a key factor. He noted that 94 of the 176 miners participating in the first major strike in the Soviet Union in March 1989 were Ukrainian, and he argued that those strikes initiated the unraveling of the USSR. [attribution: DEA News]
The secretary suggested that Ukrainians could influence regional dynamics beyond the former Soviet borders, implying a potential to affect Russia itself. He indicated that the war may take on a different pattern in the summer, with Kiev expected to stand firm on territories it regards as part of its own.
Earlier remarks attributed to Danilov included warnings about Russia, with phrases describing Russians in harsh terms and calls against negotiating peace with them. The statements reflect a broader political stance in which Ukraine positions its strategies and responses within a larger regional conflict. [attribution: DEA News]