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=== 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine ===
=== 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine ===
On 25 February, as the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]] began, Podolyak and prime minister [[Denis Shmygal]] briefed the media.<ref name="fnump">{{cite news |title=Briefing by Mykhailo Podolyak, Advisor to the Head of the President's Office, and Denis Shmygal, Prime Minister of Ukraine |url=https://frontnews.eu/en/news/details/20355 |publisher=Front News Ukraine |date=25 February 2022 |access-date=24 August 2022 |archive-date=3 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403194309/https://frontnews.eu/en/news/details/20355 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the early days, the Russian armed forces failed to significantly advance deep into the territory of Ukraine due to the readiness of the Ukrainian armed forces to resist. On 26 February, the [[Office of the President of Ukraine]] announced that the advance of the Russians had actually stopped due to the “huge losses” inflicted by the Ukrainian army.
On 25 February, as the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]] began, Podolyak and prime minister [[Denis Shmygal]] briefed the media.<ref name="fnump">{{cite news |title=Briefing by Mykhailo Podolyak, Advisor to the Head of the President's Office, and Denis Shmygal, Prime Minister of Ukraine |url=https://frontnews.eu/en/news/details/20355 |publisher=Front News Ukraine |date=25 February 2022 |access-date=24 August 2022 |archive-date=3 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403194309/https://frontnews.eu/en/news/details/20355 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the early days, the Russian armed forces failed to significantly advance deep into the territory of Ukraine due to Ukrainian defenses. On 26 February, the [[Office of the President of Ukraine]] alleged that the advance of the Russians had stopped due to “huge losses” allegedly inflicted by the Ukrainian army.


On 28 February, the first round of [[2022 Russia–Ukraine peace negotiations|Ukrainian-Russian negotiations]] took place on the territory of [[Belarus]]. Podolyak, as part of the Ukrainian delegation, participated in both this and subsequent rounds of meetings and became the main speaker of Ukraine during the negotiations. At the same time, according to him, the key demands, uncompromising for Ukraine, are: a ceasefire, the withdrawal of Russian troops to the positions they occupied before 24 February, and security guarantees.
On 28 February, the first round of [[2022 Russia–Ukraine peace negotiations|Ukrainian-Russian negotiations]] took place on the territory of [[Belarus]]. Podolyak, as part of the Ukrainian delegation, participated in both this and subsequent rounds of meetings and became the main speaker of Ukraine during the negotiations. At the same time, according to him, the key demands, uncompromising for Ukraine, are: a ceasefire, the withdrawal of Russian troops to the positions they occupied before 24 February, and security guarantees.

Revision as of 17:02, 8 October 2022

Mykhailo Podolyak
Михайло Подоляк
Adviser to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine
Assumed office
April 2020
PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyy
Personal details
Born (1972-02-16) 16 February 1972 (age 52)
NationalityUkrainian
EducationMinsk Medical Institute
Occupation
  • Journalist
  • political strategist

Mykhailo Mykhailovych Podolyak[1] (Ukrainian: Михайло Михайлович Подоляк, born 16 February 1972) is a Ukrainian politician, journalist and negotiator, serving as the adviser to the president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.[2][3]

In 2022, he became one of the representatives of Ukraine at Russian-Ukrainian peace negotiations during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Early life

Podolyak spent his childhood in Lviv and Novovolynsk.

From 1989, he lived in Belarus, and graduated from the Minsk Medical Institute.[4]

Journalist career

Deportation from Belarus

In 2004, Podolyak was deputy editor-in-chief of the opposition Belarusian newspaper Vremya. In June 2004, officers of the KGB of Belarus came to his house and gave him half an hour to collect his things. The Belarusian authorities accused Podoliak that his activities "contradict the interests of state security", and the materials contain "slanderous fabrications about the real situation in the country, calls to destabilize the political situation in Belarus".[5]

In Ukraine

In 2005, Podolyak was the editor-in-chief of Ukrainska Hazeta. In June, the publication published his article "The Last Supper": it concerned the poisoning in 2004 of the then presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko. The material was a journalistic investigation presented in an artistic form.[6]

In 2006, Podolyak began working with Ukrainian internet publication Obozrevatel as a freelancer. At the same time, he became an adviser to the owner of the publication, Chairman of the State Committee for Regulatory Policy and Entrepreneurship, Mykhailo Brodskyy. In December 2011, Podoliak became the editor-in-chief of Obozrevatel.[7]

Political career

In April 2020, Podolyak became an adviser to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak and an "anti-crisis manager" of the Office.[8] He controls the entire information policy of the Office of the President and advises Volodymyr Zelenskyy directly. In addition, he prepares ministers of the Ukrainian government for broadcasts in the media so that their theses are coordinated with the content promoted by the president.[9]

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

On 25 February, as the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine began, Podolyak and prime minister Denis Shmygal briefed the media.[10] In the early days, the Russian armed forces failed to significantly advance deep into the territory of Ukraine due to Ukrainian defenses. On 26 February, the Office of the President of Ukraine alleged that the advance of the Russians had stopped due to “huge losses” allegedly inflicted by the Ukrainian army.

On 28 February, the first round of Ukrainian-Russian negotiations took place on the territory of Belarus. Podolyak, as part of the Ukrainian delegation, participated in both this and subsequent rounds of meetings and became the main speaker of Ukraine during the negotiations. At the same time, according to him, the key demands, uncompromising for Ukraine, are: a ceasefire, the withdrawal of Russian troops to the positions they occupied before 24 February, and security guarantees.

“Our position at the negotiations is quite specific — legally verified security guarantees; ceasefire; withdrawal of Russian troops. This is possible only with a direct dialogue between the heads of Ukraine and the Russian Federation.” — said Podolyak in an interview with PBS.[11] “There are some concessions that we definitely aren’t going to make,” he said. “We cannot give away any territories.”[12]

After the discovery of Russian war crimes in Bucha in April 2022 Podolyak was worried that the occurrence would complicate ceasefire discussions with Russia.[13]

On 22 May 2022, after Russia captured the Azovstal steelworks and took full control of Mariupol, Podolyak ruled out ceasefire talks with Russia and would not accept any deal that ceded territories to Russia. Around 20,000 people were killed in Mariupol since the Russian invasion began.[14]

On 9 June 2022, Podolyak stated to the BBC "that between 100 and 200 Ukrainian troops are being killed on the front line every day."[15]

On 17 June 2022, Podolyak was interviewed by France24 in the wake of the visit of a day after the visit of the Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Mario Draghi and Klaus Iohannis to Kyiv and Irpin. He stressed that Ukraine could win the war in three to six months if it were to obtain heavy weapons.[16]

On 9 August 2022, Podolyak told the BBC: "In short, in my opinion, it’s impossible [to return to the March 2022 Istanbul communiqué]. The emotional background in Ukraine has changed very, very much. We have seen too many war crimes live. Ukrainian society will probably not agree because will understand that if Russia bears no responsibility for these crimes, they will continue in one form or another in the territory of Ukraine. Therefore, the communiqué that was proposed in Istanbul should undergo a certain upgrade."[17] On the same day he said he had deduced the Putinite strategy of wartime negotiation.[18]

On 10 August 2022, Spanish daily El Pais elicited a comment in interview from Podolyak that if a single point of conflict with Russia remains , it will be an unfinished war.[19]

In an in-depth 16 August 2022 interview with The Guardian Podolyak said the current aim of the Ukrainians was "to create chaos with Russian forces", specifically targeting supply lines and Crimea. According to him, "there was no prospect of Russia negotiating seriously until it experienced a defeat on the battlefield." He added that the tactics of the opponents differed: "a Ukrainian counteroffensive looks very different. We don’t use the tactics of the 60s and 70s, of the last century." Rather, "by striking at the invaders’ supply lines deep into occupied territories.. [the] strategy is to destroy the logistics, the supply lines and the ammunition depots and other objects of military infrastructure."[20]

On 19 August a Ukrainian source quoted Podolyak as follows: "Negotiations with Russia are a game of Russian roulette with a full cylinder and a fatal ending for everyone. This is a continuation of war, terror, and criminal blackmail."[21]

In August 2022 when Hungarian-based Wizz Air announced that it would restart flights between Moscow and Abu Dhabi in the midst of the Russian invasion of its neighbour,[22] Podolyak tweeted: "Cynics Wizz Air decided that Ukrainians’ blood does not smell, but Russian rubles from Moscow flights smell nice. Soon they realized that supporting barbarians is not about profit, but about destroyed reputation."[23]

On 24 August 2022, Ukraine saw its thirty-first anniversary and the sixth month mark since the beginning of the invasion. Podolyak rejected a "congratulatory" message from Alexander Lukashenko, the disputed President of Belarus and an ardent supporter of Russia.[24] Podolyak called Lukashenko's message cynical and disingenuous given Belarus' heavy involvement in the attacks of Ukraine, and asserted that "this blood-soaked clowning is recorded and will have consequences."[25][26]

Recognition

As of December 2020, Podolyak was listed in third place in a ranking of the 100 most influential Ukrainians according to Focus magazine.[27]

References

  1. ^ "Mykhailo Podolyak on the Russian invasion: Russian troops have not gained any operational and tactical advantage in Ukraine". president.gov.ua. Office of the President of Ukraine. 26 February 2022. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  2. ^ Starr, Michael. "Ukrainian president clarifies ironic claim that Russian attack Wednesday". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  3. ^ Moore, Mark (14 February 2022). "US shifts Ukraine embassy out of Kiev as Zelensky confirms invasion warning". New York Post. Archived from the original on 24 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  4. ^ Maria Zhartovska, Oksana Kovalenko (23 April 2020). "У главы Офиса президента — новый консультант. Он был оппозиционером в Беларуси, провластным журналистом при Януковиче, а теперь решает кризисы во власти. Большой профайл Михаила Подоляка". babel.ua (in Russian). Babel. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  5. ^ Yury Svyrko (21 June 2004). "Із Білорусі депортували журналіста-українця". radiosvoboda.org (in Ukrainian). Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  6. ^ Maryana Mygal (19 July 2005). "Редактор "Української газети" Михайло Подоляк: "Свої джерела інформації я ніколи не розкриваю"". khpg.org (in Ukrainian). Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  7. ^ Svitlana Ostapa (21 May 2012). "Михаил Подоляк: СМИ в президентских пулах должны быть лояльны к главе государства". detector.media. Detector media. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  8. ^ Kristina Berdynskykh (10 April 2020). "У главы ОП Андрея Ермака появился антикризисный советник. НВ узнал, о ком идёт речь". nv.ua. NV. Archived from the original on 14 February 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  9. ^ Соня Лукашова, Роман Кравец (12 November 2020). "Политтехнолог Банковой: Зеленский больше, чем видосики. Он – президент страны". pravda.com.ua. Ukrayinska Pravda. Archived from the original on 23 July 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  10. ^ "Briefing by Mykhailo Podolyak, Advisor to the Head of the President's Office, and Denis Shmygal, Prime Minister of Ukraine". Front News Ukraine. 25 February 2022. Archived from the original on 3 April 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  11. ^ "Our position at the negotiations is quite specific - legally verified security guarantees; ceasefire; withdrawal of Russian troops. This is possible only with a direct dialogue between the heads of Ukraine and the Russian Federation". 16 March 2022. Archived from the original on 20 March 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  12. ^ Daryna Krasnolutska (18 March 2022). "Russia Peace Talks May Last Several Weeks, Kyiv Negotiator Says". bloomberg.com. Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 21 March 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  13. ^ Abdülkerimov, Bahtiyar (19 April 2022). "Ukrainian negotiator says talks with Russia have become more complicated". Anadolu Agency. Archived from the original on 21 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  14. ^ "Russia-Ukraine War: Ukrainian advisor Mykhailo Podolyak rules out ceasefire with Russia". Bennett, Coleman & Company Limited. Times Now. 22 May 2022. Archived from the original on 22 May 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  15. ^ "Ukrainian casualties: Kyiv losing up to 200 troops a day - Zelensky aide". BBC. 9 June 2022. Archived from the original on 12 June 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  16. ^ Perelman, Marc (17 June 2022). "Zelensky adviser: Ukraine can win war in '3 to 6 months' if it gets heavy weapons soon". France24. Archived from the original on 21 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  17. ^ "Podolyak: Impossible to return to Istanbul communiqué". Ukrinform. 9 August 2022. Archived from the original on 21 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  18. ^ Cole, Brendan (9 August 2022). "How Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks Would Go, According to Zelensky's Adviser". NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC. Archived from the original on 23 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  19. ^ "Mykhailo Podolyak: If at least one point of conflict with Russia remains, it will be an unfinished war". The Odessa Journal. 10 August 2022. Archived from the original on 21 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  20. ^ Sabbagh, Dan; Harding, Luke (16 August 2022). "Ukraine aiming to create chaos within Russian forces, Zelenskiy adviser says". Guardian News & Media Limited. Archived from the original on 24 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  21. ^ Hirko, Viktoriia (19 August 2022). "A game of "Russian roulette" with a fatal ending for all: Podolyak on negotiations with Russia". Факти ICTV.
  22. ^ "Wizz Air to resume flights from UAE to Russia in October". reuters.com. Reuters. 8 August 2022. Archived from the original on 8 August 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  23. ^ "Podolyak: European companies must understand that working with Russia is 'suicide' for business". The Kyiv Independent. 20 August 2022. Archived from the original on 24 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  24. ^ "Exiled leader calls weekend of protests in Belarus". 14 August 2020 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
    "Golos platform presents the final report on the presidential election". 20 August 2020 – via www.voiceofbelarus.com.
    "EU rejects Lukashenko inauguration as illegitimate". 24 September 2020 – via www.dw.com.
    "Britain and Canada impose sanctions on Belarus leader Lukashenko". 29 September 2020 – via www.reuters.com.
    "OSCE Report on the Presidential Elections 2020 in Belarus" (PDF). 29 October 2020 – via www.osce.org.
    "Belarus protesters battered, bruised but defiant after 100 days". 17 November 2020 – via www.bbc.com.
  25. ^ Roche, Darragh (24 August 2022). "Belarus' Lukashenko, Putin's Ally, Congratulates Ukraine on Independence Day". Newsweek. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  26. ^ McFall, Caitlin (24 August 2022). "Ukraine rejects congratulatory message from Belarus on its Independence Day as 'blood-soaked clowning'". Fox News. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  27. ^ "#3 Михаил Подоляк в рейтинге "Время миньонов. 100 самых влиятельных украинцев по версии журнала Фокус"". focus.ua. Focus. 14 December 2020. Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2022.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mykhailo_Podolyak&oldid=1114858763"