The interview with Janukovytj, who fled to Russia after attempting to suppress the long-lasting protests, was conducted by the state-controlled news agency Ria-Novosti. It is not clear when or where the interview was made.
Janukovytj accuses the EU in the interview of "not having understood the complexity of the economic situation for Ukraine" in the talks that were held before he was forced away. The demonstrations were triggered in part by Janukovytj's interruption of the negotiations on an association agreement with the EU.
I will speak plainly – they (EU) were arrogant, claims the former president.
Janukovytj has been found guilty in a Ukrainian court for being responsible for the killing of demonstrators, among other places on Majdan Square in Kyiv, by security forces.
According to independent Russian media, it is the first time Janukovytj has spoken out about Ukraine since the full-scale Russian invasion began in 2022.
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