Katerina activist Dokuchaeva praises Zelensky’s management and rejects Trump’s plans; It also says that the Brazilian government demonstrates to be more aligned with Russia in the conflict
Katerina Dokuchaeva, 42, a Ukrainian resident in Brazil, criticized the neutral position adopted by Brazil in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. He said he understood that it is a tradition in Brazilian diplomacy, but that the current Brazilian government seems more aligned with the Russian in negotiations for the end of the war. The statement was given in an interview with Poder360.
In her assessmentthe closure of conflict is a distant reality. The Ukrainian also praised President Volodymyr Zelensky’s management in these 3 years of war and criticized the plans of US President Donald Trump to cease hostilities. “I do not see this conflict coming to an end, unless something changes”he declared.
Katerina was born in Uzhhorod, Ukraine, and has lived in Brazil since she was 15 years old. She is a member of Slava Ukraine, an online community of Ukrainians living in Sao Paulo.
Watch the interview (15min3s):
Read the full interview Katerina Dokuchaeva AO Poder360:
How is the daily life of your relatives in Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict?
“My city, Uzhhorod, is in the west of Ukraine, so it is far from direct conflicts. I think the war had several phases already, so the daily life was initially that chaos. Sirens playing, people hiding in subway shelters. So the first weeks of war were a lot, Difficult and as the weather went, people returned to their daily activities. The children returned to school. The adults returned to their work.
So, how are you today? Although my region is not directly affected, there is that constant risk of bombing. So the sirens, they play at any time of the day. When I speak of siren is alert. Then suddenly, in the middle of the morning, the person gets an alert on her cell phone. She has to wake up and go to some shelter. Anyway, so I think the first one is that people live a constant stress because of these warnings and these risks of attack.
In addition, my region, being away from conflicts, is receiving many refugees from eastern Ukraine. So my relatives, communities, come together to help these refugees as well. Directly, indirectly, everyone is participating in some way in the war. Affected by war. Other than that, life goes on. People will work, study. Many establishments are still closed, especially nightly, because it is considered that it is not the time to celebrate as we are at war. Bars, ballads, nightclubs, they are closed, but during the day there are normal activities. Only when it touches the siren that closes. So supermarket closes everything; Closes the moment we call the air warning. ”
And did you see your relatives in the last 3 years?
“In truth no. The last time I went to Ukraine was in 2021. I didn’t get to go later, but I even expect them to visit them this year, if all goes well. Taking my parents, my cousins, my uncles; Friends, everyone is there, and obviously I miss you so much and also worried not to see, especially, my older relatives. So I wish I could see them as soon as possible. ”
What is your assessment of the work of the Zelensky government and the allied countries to try to end this war?
“Well… I think Zelensky, for me and many, was a big surprise. Why do I say that? Because he doesn’t have much political history. He was an actor. I think people know a little about his history. When the war began, we are very doubtful: what was Zelensky to do because he didn’t have much experience in the political world, especially to rule with a war? It is a very big challenge. So I think we were positively surprised that he was not only stayed, but also because he took this position of defending the country, aligned with which the Ukrainian people want and believe.
I think he has a very important role as a leader. He has a charisma, and he has a way to communicate very clearly; And he managed to bring these alliances, practically Europe. Well, it’s not just Europe, so to say the covenant of the democratic world. Democratic countries, for the most part, all support Ukraine and it has an important role. It is an important figure to make these alliances.
As for the countries they support, we are very grateful for everyone who supports Ukraine in some way, but I believe we don’t have enough help, let’s say, to win this war. When we talk about billions we receive on weapons, it is important for us to defend ourselves, no doubt. Only we have passed the 3 -year -old milestone. In my view, the help and posture of the allies should be stronger to end this conflict as soon as possible; harder against the Russian government, against the Putin government. ”
Living in Brazil for so long, do you see the current government as sympathetic to the Ukrainian cause in war?
“This is a difficult question, but honestly not. I don’t see Brazil [como simpático]. To begin with, Brazil positions itself neutral in the face of this conflict. For living so many years in Brazil, for studying Brazilian history, I graduated here in Brazil, I know that historically Brazil is in this way. It was like that in the world wars. Brazil is a country that does not want conflict with anyone, so I understand this position. But when you, in all the UN resolutions, vote by saying ‘no, I’m neutral’, what is the interpretation? Or ‘Ukraine and Russia are in the same position’ and ‘so much to me what the Ukrainian people are passing’.
By itself, the neutral position already demonstrates that there is no clear understanding or empathy to the suffering that the Ukrainian people are passing. I think it is very clear that Ukraine has not sought this war. In fact, Ukraine is not a country that begins war. It is not an imperialist country. The Ukrainian people are not part of it. […] Quite the contrary, it is a people who have always been invaded, even often by Russia. This is not the first invasion, there were many for millennia.
For centuries there is clearly an aggressor, which is the Russian government, and a victim, which is the Ukrainian government, right!? You position yourself as neutral: No, no. no. I do not feel support in this position. But I say more, I think the posture of the Brazilian government seems to be more pro-russian than pro-Ucranian. Why do I say that? Russian representatives, Serguei Lavrov [ministro de Relações Exteriores], For example, last year, if I’m not mistaken, came more than once [ao Brasil] And President Lula was invited by President Zelensky himself more than once to visit Ukraine. He never accepted this invitation and whenever we hear on trips, he intends to go to Russia, but not to Ukraine. So I see Brazil’s stance much more aligned with Russia than Ukraine, unfortunately.
I know there is the issue of BRICS, and many say that, but I think our principles, our values, they have to be above commercial interests. So, positioning yourself against the Russian invasion, in favor of Ukrainian resistance and condemning this invasion is the least I expected from the Brazilian government and we have not seen it. ”
Do you see the Ukraine war approaching the end?
“This is what we all want from the first day of war. If someone spoke to me on February 24, 2022 that the war was going to last 3 years I wouldn’t believe. We all wake up hoping this war end. That’s what I hope every day. However, looking at the situation as she is unfortunately I can’t, in a practical and objective way, to see this end of the conflict. I don’t know what needs to happen right now for the conflict to end.
For me, of course, Russia should remove its troops from Ukraine. Will this happen? I do not see happening in the short term of the way the situation has unfolded. We see the new president of the United States, Donald Trump, saying it will. In fact, he has even said that he will end the war even before inauguration. He has said that the war will end in 24 hours, and obviously it didn’t happen. And now he is in negotiations, in our view, trying to force Ukraine to somehow surrender.
There is no forced peace. He will not be able to force this, even if a temporary ceasefire happens, for whatever reason, it will be temporary. There is no way you can impose a peace. Imposing a peace that is not fair to the Ukrainian people. So the way he is conducting the negotiations today, I don’t see this conflict coming to an end unless something changes.
This report was produced by the journalism trainee Juliana Berlinck under the supervision of editor Ighor Nóbrega.
