Last week RT sought answers to some key questions on Ukraine. Among those who responded was Simon Smith, UK’s Ambassador to Ukraine, on a Foreign and Commonwealth Office blog.

RT welcomes the Ambassador, who coincidentally began tweeting on November 25, to the conversation. Unfortunately his contribution is characterized by denial, not engagement. Have a look.

Why did the opposition oust Yanukovich after he conceded to their demands?

Ambassador Smith: They didn’t. Yanukovich fled Ukraine before fulfilling his commitments under the 21 February agreement. [All spelling and punctuation preserved - RT]

RT: Actually, no. After the ill-fated February 21 deal was signed, the three opposition leaders went to Maidan to sell it. Not everyone was happy.

Renowned Maidan commander Vladimir Parasyuk responded furiously: “We don’t want to see Yanukovich in power. We don’t want deals with them. On Sunday at 10 a.m. he must step down. And unless this morning you come up with a statement demanding that he steps down, then we will take arms and go, I swear.”

Unlike Klitschko’s pitch, Parasyuk’s rebuttal was cheered by the crowd.

There was little doubt. Yanukovich had to flee or the unleashed radicals would deliver on their threat. The opposition leaders couldn’t stop them even if they tried.

Besides the fact Yanukovich fled for his life rather than break the deal, Russia’s point is that the deal was never about keeping him in power. Instead the deal would have ended violence and led to a unity government representing all Ukrainians, “not only those supporting Maidan, but also those skeptical or even fearful of it”.

Why is the coup-appointed government replacing oligarchs linked to Yanukovich with… oligarchs?

Ambassador Smith: Who is appointed by the elected Government of Ukraine is a matter for the people and Government of Ukraine not any other foreign power – either the West or Russia.

RT: Ask Victoria Nuland what is “a matter for the people and Government of Ukraine”?

Regardless, Maidan’s core grievance was the perceived corruption of Yanukovich and his officials, their links to big business who profited from his power abuses, wasn’t it?

If corruption delegitimized Yanukovich so profoundly why is the new government so clearly getting back into bed with the country’s richest men, in Donetsk and Dnepropetrovsk?

Ambassador Smith answers nothing.

Continue reading at: http://rt.com/op-edge/ukraine-ambassador-smith-answers-662/