Former head of Ukraine’s foreign intelligence service (SZRU), Oleksandr Lytvynenko, 52, took over the leadership of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (RNBO) in March. Reporting directly to the Ukrainian president, this body’s role is to coordinate the work of the various security services and foreign policy. More informally, the RNBO also acts as an interface between these structures, the presidency and civil society on strategic issues. Mr. Lytvynenko gave an exclusive interview to the Monde during a visit to Paris on Friday, September 6.
Has the Kursk offensive in Russian territory, launched on August 6, achieved its objectives?
The operation was aimed at preventing the invasion of the Sumy region, to irritate [Vladimir] Putin and to raise the morale of the Ukrainians. It continues and now depends on the skill of our military. I have confidence in them. Unfortunately, the Russians have enough reserves to advance on Pokrovsk [dans la région de Donetsk]. It’s not a game changer, but it’s a significant success.
Are peace negotiations possible in the current context?
Russia is not ready for substantial negotiations. The problem is to bring Putin to the negotiating table. The Russians have a different strategic culture than the West. It is possible to negotiate with them only from a position of strength. That is why we must help defeat Russia by arming ourselves. Otherwise the war will continue on other territories. However, we continue to implement the president’s peace formula. [Volodymyr] Zelensky, particularly in preparing the next Peace Forum.
What is your mission as RNBO secretary?
Our role is to assist President Zelensky in his mission, which is to ensure the national security of the country. We provide him with analyses and we produce projects or decisions that we submit to him.
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How often do you meet with President Zelensky?
It depends on his schedule, but all the people who deal with security and war meet every week.
How do you assess the work of Russian propaganda in the West?
Russia has a lot of experience in propaganda since the Soviet era. It had a large arsenal of instruments against the West: from the peace 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 are lying and bad in order to destabilize and ruin the image of the West. When everything is unclear, they can get their narrative across. To combat this propaganda, we must fight fake news and end anonymity on the Internet. There is also a simple solution: to help Ukraine win this war.
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