True to their resolve they started clicking through transcripts of plenary meetings in The Rada, and went silent as their concentration got the better of them.
01.12.2021
https://www.rada.gov.ua/meeting/stenogr/show/7904.html
“Zelensky sums up the year.”
“That country is struggling harder than I had imagined.”
“They are well on their way. Building and repairing hundreds of bridges, producing aircraft for cargo and runways and have it connected properly with EU.”
“Public school improvements, more and more modern. Work for the elderly.”
ZELENSKY V.O.:
For the first time in 30 years, we started building Antonov aircraft again. For the first time in many years, we started building our domestic locomotives and wagons in Kremenchuk. For the first time in many years, we started building our modern, Ukrainian tanks in Kharkiv.
“What does he mean when he says:”
We finally approved the de-occupation of Crimea.
“He doesn’t say. But look here… In late 2021 it would appear that talking with Putin was a viable option:”
And then let’s be honest: the war in Donbass has been going on for 8 years, since Russia annexed Crimea for 8 years. And I am not afraid to speak to everyone, and to speak directly to the Russians. That is why at the same time I am not afraid of a direct conversation with him, we are not afraid of a direct dialogue.
[…]
And we must admit, without our army we cannot stop the war. And we must tell the truth that we cannot stop the war without direct negotiations with Russia. And today it has been recognized by all, all external partners as well.
“That is Zelensky the pragmatist. Can you remember when negotiation was even legal to talk about?”
“Note though, that his peers reacts harshly. Notice also the references to defining events of the past. Maidan already resembles the mythology of USA’s road to independence.”
“Mythology? Those events happened!”
“… In a tumultuous way, not the way they were later remembered.”
PARUBIY A.V.:
On the night of December 1, we stood on Mykhailivska Square. I remember this night, how people went to Maidan from all over Ukraine, and on December 1, a million Ukrainians moved to Maidan, returned to Maidan. And despite the fact that we were beaten and killed, we were able to defeat the criminal and treacherous regime of Yanukovych, because we were for Ukraine, not for the President.
[…]
Today, Zelensky is the problem of Ukraine. Ukrainians will not allow you to destroy the state. We paid too high a price for our independence. We are Ukrainians, we also have dignity, we respect our freedom and independence.
We are for Ukraine, not for the President. Glory to Ukraine!
“So Benedict… what do you make of that?”
“Don’t push me down that road. This is exactly what I hate about democracy. People with arrested emotional development spurting out their infantile unrefined ideas about something we all must worship. Their personal preferences elevated to a half-baked religious state and rammed down our collective throats.”
“Well, that attitude won’t make you popular. People happen to cherish their dignity and freedom.”
“Is it possible, that Zelensky is aware of that? Perhaps things became less simple once you started to look at individual cases. Who knows? Perhaps there were some who - in the name of their dignity - were willing to perpetrate violence against others.”
“Respect my dignity or glove’s off”
“… Is a veiled way of sneaking in justification for anything. Your “dignity” is a nice abstraction. And to prove my point, look further down:”
HERASHSCHENKO I.V.
[…]
But the key quintessence of his populist promises was one phrase about direct negotiations with the Russian Federation. As in all the other speeches that Zelenskyy has repeatedly given to the Ukrainian society over the past two and a half years, he did not say the key thing: who occupied the Ukrainian Crimea and the Ukrainian Donbas. He never dared to name Putin, whom he still wants to look into the eyes, stand on his knees, look into his eyes and hold direct talks with him.
[…]
Mr. Zelenskyi , you will not be able to hide from society’s questions. Direct negotiations are the way to capitulation and betrayal.
“Pardon my French, but to hell with his emotions.”
“Would you be willing to entertain the possibility that European Solidarity knew what they talked about?”
“Yes, always. 1) Give me an actual claim, something that can be verified or disputed. 2) Demonstrate that his value as a human being springs from something intrinsic, not a party program.”
“Actually, he does provide an actual claim: Putin immediately orchestrated Crimea and Donbas resistance. Possible?”
“Perhaps. Burden of proof…”
02.12.2021
https://www.rada.gov.ua/meeting/stenogr/show/7908.html
“Bill 62731 was accepted at this meeting. Extending the special status for Luhansk and Donetsk for one year.”
“This looks like an effort to comply with Minsk II.”
“Opposition Platform - For Life, which is labelled as pro-russian in our media, seems to only have one thing on their agenda: Convince people to comply with Minsk and have peace. All the discussions I see relates to that single topic.”
KOROLEVSKA N.Yu.
[…] peace in Ukraine is needed primarily by us, Ukrainians, and for this we must do everything in our power to restore the peaceful sky over our Ukrainian land.
And for this, it is necessary to implement the whole complex of measures regarding the Minsk Agreements: this is amnesty, this is the exchange of detained persons, this is the abolition of the economic blockade, this is the elections under Ukrainian legislation, these are changes to the Constitution, and this is also the main thing is also the social protection of our Ukrainians who live in uncontrolled territory, this is the resumption of the payment of pensions, social benefits.
“The party was banned even though they did condemn the Russian invasion.”
Benedict expected this statement. “Frankly, all I saw from them was very ordinary. We say they are pro-russian, and we mean it like »Ukraine hating monsters« but in debates, I only saw them advocate sticking to Minsk, be on peaceful terms with Russia. A mouthpiece for Kremlin? Perhaps. They proffered a peaceful solution to Donbas.
KOLTUNOVYCH O.S.
Therefore, our faction advocates that we work in plenary mode these two weeks, so that we, both the committees and the Verkhovna Rada, vote those political points from the set of measures for the implementation of the Minsk Agreements and finally there will be peace in Ukraine.
“Yes and no. I see their position in the Rada as being isolated. They raised there voice, but nobody ever really answered. So more like »Yeah, you talk, but you simply don’t understand our pro-EU sentiments. It is wasted on you.« "
“Agreed, they were completely isolated. Honestly I also see that as a testament to the fact that politics is just as emotional a process as any other. If I don’t show sensitivity to what matters to you, you won’t pay me a similar respect.”
“And given that the pro-west and pro-east sides probably are mutually exclusive, there can never be peace”, said Maurice, while already pursuing his next thought.
“But something else seems to elude me. What is the pro-western stance on how to solve the Donbas crisis? Because all I se is condemnation for the presence of rebel forces, calls to join NATO, plans for acquiring western military technology, forestall or delay Minsk II. In other words: Conquer back Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk. And then what?
None of that is a plan for what to do with the very large minority of Russians inside Ukraine who loathe the direction the country was taking.”
“Ukraine suffered a 80/20 split. That is not the first time in the history of democracy. USA has basically the same issue but much closer to a 50/50 split. Liberalism versus Trumpism. One will end up the loser. These are harsh terms and frankly I consider it a failure of democracy. Democrary is about ideals, but not about virtues. Antagonistic sentiments will always flourish unabashed.”
17.12.2021
https://www.rada.gov.ua/meeting/stenogr/show/7928.html
https://www.rada.gov.ua/meeting/stenogr/show/7929.html
Both of them skipped to the end of the year.
“Strange, isn’t it. Last day in the Rada before Christmas and still just the usual pressing matters. Economic hardship in many regions, COVID, a bit of help to the soldiers in Donbas. Discussions on pensions. Miners not getting paid. Not enough Diesel for the army.”
“The government is reporting on state of affairs. Vaccination is finally off to a good start. 13 million vaccinated, 40 million vaccines procured”
“Digitalisation. Funding of the outskirts of the country, rural districts.”
“This could be any country in the world, judging from their conversation.”
The Armed Forces of Ukraine this year received more than 3 thousand basic samples of weapons and military equipment: 2 thousand missiles, ammunition and means of destruction for various purposes, 3.6 million units of artillery shots
“$1 billion in development funding from various sources, World Bank, European Investment Bank.”
“The war with rebels, or Russia the aggressor as they consistently denominate them, seems to be something happening far away. More pressing matters. Someone asks the government:”
We are very quick to relax when the threat is gone.
“Representatives from the government answers:”
No one relaxes, Ukraine has been at war for the eighth year. This is the first [national threat]. Threats wax and wane over time. Now there really was tension, which with the help of international partners, we hope, will be localized, but our Armed Forces are fully ready to protect us and you at any time.
“… There is a problem, but it is under some form of control.”
“Nobody mentions Minsk this last day. But hey:”
[…] that we would revise precisely these criteria for expensive tickets and that the rate of 7 percent should be applied, if we want to popularize sports events and sports […]
“Sports is serious business. So is film. Disagreements on financing the movie industry:”
Do you know the name “My Young Prince”? It was said here that Derzhkino is poorly financed. So Derzhkino allocates 20 million hryvnias for the shooting of a film of an erotic, homosexual nature, the context of which is the use of Christian and biblical themes. And this is in a country where the majority of Ukrainians are Christians. (Noise in the hall)
“So the year closes. There is some prospect of war, but they are prepared.”
/PARADOX