Former head of the Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service (SZRU), Oleksandr Lytvynenko, 52, became head of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (RNBO) in March. Placed under the direct authority of the Ukrainian president, the body coordinates the work of the various security services and foreign policy. More informally, the RNBO also acts as an interface between these organizations, the president and civil society on strategic issues. Lytvynenko gave an exclusive interview to Le Monde during a visit to Paris on Friday, September 6.
The aim of the operation was to prevent the invasion of the Sumy region, irritate [Vladimir] Putin and boost Ukrainian morale. It continues and now depends on the skill of our military. I have every confidence in them. Unfortunately, the Russians have enough reserves to advance on Pokrovsk [in the Donetsk region]. It has not changed the situation, but it's a significant success.
Russia is not ready for substantial negotiations. The problem is getting Putin to the negotiating table. The Russians have a different strategic culture from the West. You can only talk to them from a position of strength. That's why we need to help ourselves defeat Russia by arming ourselves. Otherwise, the war will continue in other territories. However, we are continuing to implement President Zelensky's peace formula, including preparations for the next peace forum.
Our role is to support President Zelensky in his mission to guarantee the country's national security. We provide him with analyses and produce projects and decisions which we hand over to him.
It depends on his schedule, but all the people who deal with security and war meet every week.
Russia has a long history of propaganda, dating back to the Soviet era. It had a large arsenal of instruments at its disposal against the West: from the pacifist movement to the Communist parties. Today, the method is not to say that the West is bad and Russia is good, but to confuse people. To make people believe that all these countries lie and are bad, in order to destabilize and ruin the West's image. When everything is blurred, they can get their story across. To combat this propaganda, we need to fight false information and put an end to anonymity on the internet. And there's a simple solution: Help Ukraine win this war.
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