On certain issues during the press conference of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, which took place on December 19, there was a “collapse of illusions”.
Political scientist, co-founder of the National Platform for Sustainability and Cohesion Oleg Sahakyan stated this on air at the national telethon.
In his opinion, there were not many good questions during the press conference. This, says Sahakyan, is due to the fact that press conferences of the President of Ukraine do not occur so often, and journalists sometimes want to express themselves more personally than to ask questions of public interest.
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— Answering Zelensky's questions is both his superpower and his weakness. On the one hand, the good news is that the Supreme Commander does not turn into a monument and remains a man. It's strong. But at the same time it is also a weakness, which is too human. Often emotions. And here there were often emotional answers, firstly, and secondly, not all questions that related to Zaluzhny, relations with him… Zelensky answered these questions more than he was asked, — says the expert.
Sahakyan points out that additional attention has been drawn to the issue of Ukraine's victory in the Black Sea, since this is a really important topic that is not so brightly perceived in the West.
Regarding the question to the president about people’s deputies, Vladimir Zelensky also answered more than he was asked, the political scientist says. According to Sahakyan, the head of state showed that he is well informed about internal political problems, but, at the same time, the president reduced everything to the fact that there is a limited number of personnel who could be involved in governing the state, in particular in his team.
The question to the president about Ukraine switching to the so-called war footing deserves special attention. The political scientist says that Zelensky demonstrated to the journalist who asked the relevant question that he, as president, knows much more key details on this topic, but at the same time he showed that he does not plan significant changes in this area.
— Basically, the question comes down to people, that there is a shortage of people, and accordingly, (the president asked the journalist, — Ed.) “ what else is missing to be on a war footing, tell me — and then we will take this into account”. This is partly and in continuation of the pressing questions that the President is ready to answer, — said Sahakyan.
The political scientist believes that the press conference should be held at the beginning of 2024, instead of the end of 2023.
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— In any case, the willingness to answer difficult questions characterizes Zelensky very well. We can criticize the answers from different sides, but the very fact of readiness for communication, which was criticized very seriously, since recently it has turned into a “radio” mode, that is, constant video recordings without feedback, in the first place queue from journalists. This is actually the answer. And a willingness to answer difficult questions — that's good — he said.
Sahakyan says he was pleasantly surprised that some of the opposition media were invited, although he notes that they were not allowed to speak during the president's press conference.
The political scientist says that during the event few theses were voiced on how state policy will be implemented, when more questions were asked about Vladimir Zelensky’s attitude to certain events.
In general, the expert says that at the press conference there was a “collapse of illusions”, which can be said in general about 2023, and in particular, in the context of Ukraine’s accession to NATO, the question about which was voiced in press conference time.
— Regarding NATO. This is a statement that NATO is indeed not ready to invite Ukraine today. Is Ukraine changing its plans based on this? I didn’t hear this from the president. The key thing I heard is that Ukraine is not ready to either give up territories or make any concessions to Russia in response to the ephemeral various wishes of foreign countries… I saw here a clear and hard-won position: any illusions aside. This is what I like about it. In general, this is about the collapse of illusions, which can be said in general about 2023, both collective and individual, — he said.
In addition, a political scientist says that Ukrainians are the last romantics in Europe.
— In general, in Ukraine there is a romantic attitude towards what is right or wrong, how one should act… we remain the last romantic of Europe. We believe in Europe more than Europe itself believes in itself, and sometimes more than Europe itself deserves this faith. At the same time, we demand and expect that someone will act in accordance with our idea of how we should act in this place. Sometimes it’s worth taking a critical look at yourself, — the expert believes.
Recall that on December 19, the President of Ukraine held a press conference on the results of 2023, where he answered, in particular, questions about his relations with the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny, plans for 2024, expectations for mobilization and many others questions.
The main points from the press conference of Vladimir Zelensky in text and video format can be viewed on ICTV Facts.
