MOSCOW, October 29. /TASS/. Ukraine should not take on the role of a buffer state between Russia and Europe and should use its geographic position instead for serving as a bridge connecting them, Viktor Medvedchuk, the leader of the Ukrainsky Vybor (Ukrainian Choice) public movement said in an interview with the Vesti v Subbotu (News on Saturday) primetime news and analysis show on Rossiya One channel.
"We also use a term like 'a bridge' between Europe and Russia," he said. "If Ukraine had intellectual rulers in recent years, they would use these transportation capabilities for the benefit of the economy, for changing the situation, and for developing our industries as well as all other sectors," Medvedchuk said.
The problem is the incumbent Ukrainian authorities proceed from the political calculus rather than economic interests as they formulate their decisions, he went on.
"When it's politics, or rather political servitude of some sort and not the economy that underlies everything then any kind of (...) economic development is ruled out," Medvedchuk said.
"Ukraine should use its geopolitical situation while rows and quarrels and all the more so hostility with the neighbor country is a totally despicable thing," he said.
He believes the fanning of strife between Russia and Ukraine is totally inadmissible, Medvedchuk said. "I personally and the people sharing my views have commitment to principles and are persistent and they feel confident the peoples of both countries will never be enemies towards each other, whatever the strivings of some forces in this sphere," he said.