Ukrainian star journalist says what Western media are hiding: “There is no freedom in Ukraine!”

30.10.2024 | www.kla.tv/30908

The attitude of the Western media in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia is unmistakable. Russia's government - around President Putin - is the aggressor. The Ukrainian government is the victim that has to defend itself. Russia is quickly reported on in a negative way, "there is no freedom of the press, etc." You hardly hear anything negative about Ukraine. Australian journalist and TV presenter Diana Panchenko paints a completely different picture. She reaches an audience of millions on YouTube and has 300,000 followers on a Telegram channel. The editor Sascha A. Roßmüller of the German magazine and portal "DEUTSCHE STIMME" conducted an interview with Panchenko, which was published on October 11, 2024. "DEUTSCHE STIMME" - founded in 1976 - puts "the national interest first" and makes its contribution to creating a balance. Listen to an excerpt from the interview below. It represents an important counter-voice to the one-sided reporting of the Western media. And it also shows a way out of the escalating conflict between Russia and Ukraine with Europe. Panchenko on discrimination and harassment that she experienced as a Ukrainian journalist Being a journalist in Ukraine is a thankless job. In my 15 years in this profession, I have been attacked three times. I receive threats every day. (Ukrainian President) Zelensky has imposed personal sanctions against me. Criminal proceedings have been initiated against me and I face life imprisonment - and all this because of a post on Telegram saying that we need peace talks to save Ukraine. This is not a joke, it is all in my files. When I then hear that Ukraine is fighting for its freedom in this war, it makes me uncomfortable because I know that there is no freedom there. My programs used to have the highest ratings of any Ukrainian news media. I won a Journalist of the Year award. And when the war started, I was in Kyiv. (…) I know what I am talking about. (…) But the government is doing everything in its power to silence me. Panchenko reports on developments in Ukraine since the Maidan in 2014 But let's start from the beginning: during the events on the Maidan, I was a reporter. Every day I was on the ground and saw how the mob threw stones and Molotov cocktails at the police. I saw how people were paid for provocations. Only you will not find this in the Western media. After the success of the Maidan, the government introduced strict censorship. The minority took control of the majority. It was a death sentence to say that you were against the Maidan and did not support the coup. At that time, several well-known journalists were murdered in Ukraine. Like the murder of Oles Buzina. The investigation is still ongoing, although everyone knows who did it. After the Maidan, I worked at the channel “NewsOne”. Our attitude was honest and unbiased. We reported on the corruption of Zelensky and his team. We provided a platform for supporters of the Minsk Agreement and Ukraine's neutral status. We fought for peace. For this, Zelensky closed our channel - as well as two others - in February 2021. This happened a year before the war - another indication that he already knew what was coming. He tried to delete all alternative sources of information. Panchenko reports on developments in Ukraine after the start of the war on February 24, 2022 When the war started, I was in Kyiv. I was immediately declared an enemy of the state: the hunt began. There were several attacks against me. Since the beginning of the war, the dictatorship in Ukraine has intensified. All television channels have been closed. There is only one left that is under Zelensky's control. All well-known journalists received visits from the "SBU" (the domestic secret service of Ukraine). This even threatened the safety of my relatives. Any criticism of the authorities is considered treason. Since the beginning of the war, the "SBU" has initiated over 2,500 criminal cases on political charges. Some of my colleagues have disappeared. Others were tortured. Many of them are in prison. It was only thanks to my fame that I survived and was able to leave the country - to work as a journalist and also to preserve my moral integrity. (…) Panchenko on the reasons for the Russian-Ukrainian war The Russian-Ukrainian war was not an accident. Preparations to sacrifice Ukraine have not only been going on for the last 30 years. They have been going on since the end of World War II. To understand where Ukraine's path could lead, just look at the map. We just had to remain neutral - not pro-Russian, but simply neutral, in other words: "stay out of trouble". Instead, NATO was allowed to build its infrastructure in Ukraine. This all began before 1991. Even before the end of World War II, British and American intelligence services were working with Ukrainian nationalists against the USSR. (…) Ukraine had two options. Option one: neutrality and good relations with Russia. Option two: a buffer zone and war – to the last man. Ukraine has chosen the second option – or, more accurately, it has been chosen for Ukraine. I will not list the means that the West has spent to turn Ukrainians against the Russians. – Enough is already known about this. As someone who is as old as modern Ukraine, I must say that we are part of a great experiment. Propaganda has turned members of one family into enemies. This begins at school, where Russia is portrayed as the cause of all our problems. All those who called for peace and warned us were deposed, killed or thrown into prison. (…) Panchenko reports on the role of Selenskyjs I know Zelensky a little. I know his team. He is addicted to fame and hates any criticism. This may not necessarily be bad for an actor, but it is absolutely unacceptable for a politician - let alone a president. At the moment, however, Zelensky practically makes no decisions. The US State Department makes them for him, and Jake Sullivan (Biden's National Security Advisor) is his boss. (…) Panchenko on the question of who will sit in the White House - Donald Trump or Kamala Harris? I think it is an oversimplification to say that Mr. Trump will end the war. But I would like to be wrong. Ukraine is definitely supporting the Biden administration in this election campaign. (…) Panchenko on the development of increasing tensions, whether it could escalate into a widespread catastrophe I hate to be the bearer of bad news. But I see no prospects for de-escalation. We live in a world where you can't call a spade a spade. To put it simply, the warmongers won't let it happen. The world is ruled by an aggressive minority. They suppress, destroy or kill anyone who disagrees with them. Moreover, they camouflage their crimes with supposedly progressive ideas and democracy labels. The Maidan events have basically spread all over the world (…). Three centuries ago, Immanuel Kant, in his philosophical essay Towards Perpetual Peace, declared that humanity can achieve universal peace either through universal enlightenment or through devastating conflict. Unfortunately, it looks like only something terrible will make people think. And that means more people will die. I'd love to be wrong, but it looks like the next phase of escalation is a full-scale war between Russia and NATO. In Ukraine and in Europe. (…) It pains me to say this, but today Europe is following in Ukraine's footsteps by making decisions that harm its own people. I love Germany and I have been there before. I respect its great culture and admire the hard work of its people and I can only wish Germany to regain its sovereignty. There can be no Europe without a strong Germany. And to be strong, it must pursue its national interests. Panchenko on her personal future My main goal is to help people understand each other. The root of all evil is ignorance. For years, a wall has been built between Russians and Ukrainians, with the goal of them knowing almost nothing about each other. And now they are building a similar wall between Russia and Europe. Today I focus on telling people the truth about the war in Ukraine to prevent an even bigger conflict. I publish videos on my X account. My book (titled The Inevitable) will soon be published in Europe and the US, and I am also planning a film adaptation. - I pray for peace for all of us and hope that reason will prevail.

from Daniel d./dd.

Sources/Links: Interview des „Deutsche Stimme“-Redakteurs Sascha A. Roßmüller mit der ukrainischen Star-Journalistin und TV-Moderatorin Diana Panchenko https://deutsche-stimme.de/diana-panchenko-die-welt-wird-von-einer-aggressiven-minderheit-regiert/