Vladimir Putin must be stopped now or Russian forces will advance to the “border with Poland or Germany”, according to the war heroine turned politician described as Ukraine’s "Joan of Arc"
Nadia Savchenko was released from a Russian prison only two weeks ago. The female pilot who was the first woman to fly a Ukrainian helicopter gunship and the first to graduate from the Air Force Academy was captured while fighting pro-Russian rebels in the east in June 2014.
After being consigned to a Russian jail, Ms Savchenko was elected to Ukraine’s parliament from her cell. She used her trial to heap scorn on the judge, the prosecutor and Mr Putin in particular, labelling them variously as “criminals” and “idiots”.
“It might be uncomfortable for Europe or even America for some time. But they need to understand that if they don’t stop Russia on the border of Ukraine, next time it will be on the border with Poland or the border with Germany.”
But Europe and America have declined to supply Ukraine with weapons, fearing this would only escalate the confrontation with Russia. Ms Savchenko said they should change this policy but she was notably cautious about the risks.
“You should be very careful with that because if you make some sharp steps it could lead to a big war,” she said. “Of course, help is required - but we need to do it some kind of partnership and cooperation, for example with Nato support, using existing tools.
Maybe we will die, yes, but if you don’t want us to die and to stand up and stop it, then you should provide us with the means.”
Ms Savchenko made a triumphant return to Ukraine after being freed in a prisoner exchange on May 25. Hailed in the local press as her country’s Joan of Arc, she took her seat in parliament in the capital, Kiev, and is already regarded as a possible future president.
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