In the interview with Ridus, Head of the DPR Denis Pushilin spoke about the significance of the Russian Donbass Doctrine and the readiness of our Republic to hold a repeat referendum on self-determination with the maximum number of international observers.
During the interview, Denis Pushilin shared his opinion about the Russian Donbass Doctrine.
“The doctrine is interesting for everyone. It concerns self-identification, the answer to the most important question: what’s next? After all, over the years of being part of Ukraine, this sociological prop was erasing — who we are, why everything is like this.
The Russian doctrine from the historical point of view tells what Donbass was at different periods of our past: during the Russian Empire, during the USSR, what Donbass was like, why it became what it became, how it gained certain momentum, why it became economically self-sufficient, and why people have such a core here.
The doctrine explains why it happened the way it did in 2014: why Donbass put almost everything at stake: its life, its existence.Why people took up arms and began to defend what was inside them: their worldview, their attitude toward Russianness in general: the Russian culture and language, the Russian soul after all. The most important thing is that the doctrine gives certain guidelines for how the Republics will act in certain situations, how they will move forward and what they will aim for,” the Head of the Republic explained.
He also noted that with the adoption of the doctrine, we get the principles of decision-making not only in the field of education.
“Our generation already knows everything that is described in the doctrine, nothing new is said, it is an axiom. But for the next generation, our young people, it is very important. This is the foundation we have described and accepted as a guide for action. Therefore, government decisions in all departments and areas will be based on what is written in our doctrine,” Denis Pushilin stated.
Raising the question about the advisability of a second referendum, the Head of the DPR emphasized that this is our proposal to the world community.
“To those people who make decisions, on whom much depends in the world and who do not notice us: they did not notice our referendum in 2014, did not notice how we were being destroyed by the Ukrainian army, which continues to destroy our towns and villages, our infrastructure and, worst of all, continues to take lives not only of the military, but also of the civilian population. So, this is a suggestion for the global community: we are ready, but are you ready? For us, everything is clear, everything is obvious. We can repeat the referendum at any time. Do you think that the necessary legal components were not in place in 2014? We are ready to repeat it again with the maximum number of international observers. But the question whether the international community is ready for that remains open,” Denis Pushilin said.
Touching upon the topic of industrial production, Denis Pushilin named successful enterprises of the Republic: DonFrost, which makes refrigerating equipment; the Makeyevka plant Lazer; the Yasinovataya machine-building plant, Aviatekh, which received the first license to supply equipment in the field of aviation component.
“There are more than 500 industrial enterprises in the territory of the Republic in different areas, but the pillars of Donbass have always been three main areas: metal industry, machine building and coal industry. Investments and modernization are needed here, which have not been carried out for many years, and for such enterprises it is critically important, because the production must be competitive. Of course, we are working in this regard. It is very hard, I will not hide it, but no one gives up.
Even now the Yuzovka Iron and Steel Works is showing positive trends. We have plans for the Donetsk Iron and Steel Works. Everything is gradual, we are overcoming difficulties and obstacles, the Head of the DPR told.
Denis Pushilin also commented on Ukraine’s attitude to the Minsk Agreements.
“This is what Ukraine is all about: on the one hand, they do not want to and cannot fulfill the Minsk Agreements, nevertheless, they leave it to themselves to continue the sanctions policy against Russia, to portray themselves as victims, to take loans and to write off all their economic insolvency on the war, and so on. This is Ukraine.
On the other hand, we are well aware that we can expect anything from Ukraine, especially with the advent of the new U.S. administration, for which some Ukrainian politicians have very serious hopes.
Of course, we must be prepared for an escalation at the front line, but we do not intend to wait. We are planning and doing: we are building our Republic, we are strengthening our statehood, we are working on our ideology so that no one will have any doubts that we are following the course that was chosen in 2014,” Denis Pushilin said.
During the interview, questions were also raised about the possibility of escalation at the line of contact, how the Republic could peacefully return the entire Donbass within its boundaries, housing and utilities rates and the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the end of the interview, Denis Pushilin said how he sees the Republic in five years.
“Prosperous. I really want that. Our people deserve to live better, get a proper salary, they are willing to work, so jobs must be provided. And, of course, with the full understanding that we have become as close to Russia as possible. This is important for us,” Denis Pushilin emphasized.
