Alexander Mantytskiy, Ambassador of Russia to Bangladesh, made it clear that the construction of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant and the bilateral and economic relations between Bangladesh and Russia will not be hampered due to the recent unrest between Russia and Ukraine.
The Russian envoy came up with the assertion while he was briefing the media in the capital on Thursday on the situation around Ukraine.
About the crisis, Alexander Mantytskiy said, “The unfolding crisis in Ukraine has not been caused by the Russia-led special military operation. The current situation in Donbas and Ukraine is the direct consequence of the anti-constitutional coup d'état staged by neo-Nazi forces with the Western support in February 2014 as well as of the clear intention of the NATO member-countries headed by the US to use the Ukrainian territory to create security threats to Russia, to deter Russia.”
About Bangladesh’s voting at the UNGA emergency special session on March 2 on the draft resolution regarding Russian operation in Ukraine, he said, “Let me tell you that we in Russia highly appreciate the Bangladesh’s responsible and balanced attitude towards the said resolution. We express gratitude to the Bangladeshi Side for its neutral position taken despite the enormous external pressure during the said voting. Your Honorable Minister for Foreign Affairs Abdul Momen very specifically defined the motives behind Bangladesh’s abstention, So, I have nothing more to add.”
However, he also said, “We received a lot of questions whether illegal Western sanctions have impact on Russia-Bangladesh economic cooperation, first of all in terms of construction of the Rooppur NPP. Let me assure you that the construction is on schedule. In 2021, the dome of the inner containment was assembled at Unit 1, the reactor vessel and reactor plant equipment were installed; in February this year, welding of the reactor coolant pipeline was completed. Deaerator has been installed in the machine room. Installation of the polar crane was completed at Unit 2 in November 2021. The reactor vessel and steam generators are scheduled to be mounted by the end of the year. Construction of a training center for the operational personnel of the Rooppur NPP is at its final stage. Active work is currently underway on the installation of the key thermal and mechanical, electrical equipment, process pipelines. All operations are being carried out on schedule; the project will be implemented in accordance with previously approved plans.”
The Russian envoy further said, “As far as other aspects of the Russia-Bangladesh economic cooperation and its development are concerned, I can tell you that respective authorities from both the countries are working out modalities to make transactions and keep trade on, avoiding SWIFT system. I will not go into the details of this work but different options are being considered, for instance barter, swap of national currencies and usage of third country’s banks. The Russian Federation as a responsible party of different trade accords, including deals with Bangladesh, is committed to fully exercising its obligations under the agreements. As you may know, even during our special military operation Russia, being sanctioned by West, keeps on supplying gas to Europe. Recently India announces its plan to buy more Russian oil despite US threats, adopting ‘pragmatic approach’ to ensure energy security”
He also said, “I’m sure that you are aware that due to politically motivated action many Western companies have chosen to quit the Russian market and left huge niche that can be filled by Bangladeshi companies and goods. For example, ready-made garment and medical/ pharmaceutical products. Some of your agricultural crops are also welcome in Russia.”
While addressing the media the Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh said, “Last week it was reported that on March 9, about 80 tons of ammonia were brought to the town of Zolochev near Kharkov city by Ukrainian nationalists. Locals who left Zolochev claimed that the nationalists were conducting training on how to deal with a chemical attack. We’re looking at another dangerous provocation. Contrary to the anti-Russian mantra of Western quarters about threats to Ukraine, the real danger to the country and its people now comes from the armed formations of neo-Nazis, who commit numerous war crimes and use terrorist methods. They continue to mine residential areas, destroy bridges and roads, and destroy vital infrastructure. Civilians are forced to survive in inhumane conditions: without heat, electricity, water, food and medicine.”
According to the statement of Alexander Mantytskiy, Ukraine, a country with dozens of millions of Russian-speaking citizens, has waged unrelenting fight against the Russian language and the Russian culture. The ideology of neo-Nazism has been widely and aggressively implanted. Extrajudicial killings of political opponents and silencing of dissent have become a new normal. Such inhumane actions have been taking place throughout the last eight years. The people of Donbas have been caught up in the bloody war coupled with total transport and economic blockade of the region. The Ukrainian leadership in Kyiv has been openly sabotaging their international obligations under the Minsk Package of Measures. Kyiv repeated unwillingness for a dialogue to grant a special status to Donbas convinced us that there was no chance left for the Minsk agreements to be implemented.
He also told the media that in November 2013, the decision by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to postpone the signing of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Commission triggered a broad anti-government movement with media and financial support from abroad. Street protests in Kyiv quickly escalated into fierce confrontation with law enforcement units.
On February 21, 2014, President Yanukovych and the opposition signed an agreement to settle the political crisis witnessed by the foreign ministers of Germany and Poland, and an official from the French Foreign Ministry. The agreement declared a commitment to establishing a government of national unity and to hold a constitutional reform that would be acceptable to all in Ukraine.
However, the next day, on February 22, 2014, under pressure from the opposition, the Ukrainian Parliament adopted a resolution ousting Yanukovych from the presidential office and announced the formation of the Government of Winners, instead of the Government of National Unity. Thus, in violation of the constitution, an overt coup d'état was carried out. The United States and the European Union did not demand compliance with the Agreement of February 21, 2014, but preferred to acknowledge the "change of power" in Ukraine.
Interestingly, a number of US high-ranking officials, including assistant secretary of state Victoria Nuland, Vice President Joseph Biden and CIA Director John Brennan, visited Kyiv at that time, supporting the rioters.
The coup led to a sharp polarization of the Ukrainian society and created conditions for an armed civil conflict when the new authorities in Kyiv violated the rights and freedom of the population in the South-East of the country and attempted to suppress their peaceful protest with military force.
For eight consecutive years, the Kyiv regime has been openly pursuing Russophobic and genocidal policy against its own people. The population of Donbas was humiliated, called "terrorists", "non-humans" and "species".
He also said, “Another disturbing development in modern Ukraine is that since 2014, when the national radicals took power in the country after the unconstitutional coup, they began to glorify those who collaborated with Nazi Germany. Those were the members of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army who openly killed Russians, Poles, Jews, Gypsies, people of other ethnicities and ‘objectionable’ Ukrainian during the World War II. Now their atrocities are presented as ‘the struggle for freedom’.”
“When discussing this topic, we must be mindful of a broader context that triggered the current crisis in Ukraine. I am talking about NATO and Ukrainian plans to join the Alliance,” he added.
He further said, “During the special military operation in Ukraine, we discovered facts that Ukrainian authorities, supported and directly sponsored by the US Department of Defense, were implementing dangerous projects in the framework of a military biological program. This activity was carried out on the Ukrainian territory, in the middle of Eastern Europe and close to Russia's western borders, which posed a real threat to biological security of our country and the region. This is cynical use of Ukraine's territory and population for dangerous research that Washington does not want to have at home so that not to put its own population at risk.
As unveiled during the special military operation, a network of more than 30 biological laboratories was established in Ukraine after 2014 with financial ($32 million funding) and organizational support from the US.”
“Besides, during this special operation Russia exercises its right to self-defense from a regime that sought to recover access to nuclear weapons, as openly stated by the President of Ukraine on 18 February at the Munich Conference. Ukraine has had nuclear competencies since the Soviet times. As far as enrichment and nuclear materials are concerned, they are capable of launching such projects. Given the extremely hostile attitude of Kyiv, such systems would have been used to target Russia once they were ready,” he said.
“We have been facing difficulties at all stages in our history. I can assure you that this time we will emerge from the crisis with a healthier mindset and mentality. We will no longer have an illusion that the West can be a reliable partner who does not abandon anyone and its own values at the drop of a hat. Also, we will do everything in our power to never depend on the West in the areas of critical importance for our people,” he added.