The video, which Poroshenko posted on Facebook, he tells that on February 28, 2014 came to the Crimea to negotiate with local authorities on behalf of the acting President of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov. “I was going to hold talks with deputies of the Verkhovna Rada of Crimea, the Presidium, the head, and offer all that they wanted,” – said Poroshenko.
According to him, at the airport he was met by soldiers, who offered not to go to the Supreme Council of Crimea and to hold a meeting in the “bath and Laundry complex” outside the city. Poroshenko refused and still went in the center of Simferopol.
“The Verkhovna Rada of Crimea, when in there was supposed to have discussed the referendum, was blocked and closed, not a single person was not there. And a cordon of Russian troops. From the point of view of international law it was absolutely clear act of annexation”, – said Poroshenko.
According to the Ukrainian President, he was approached by several people who expressed their support. Regarding criticism in his address at the time, Poroshenko called her “alleged act of national anger”.
As reported the channel “112” on February 28, 2014, on the eve of the visit Poroshenko (at the time Deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine) wrote on his Facebook about the decision to go to Simferopol, in order “not to jeopardize the unity of Ukraine”. Near the building of the Supreme Council of the Crimea he was met by protesters shouting “Russia!” and “get out of Crimea”, and then with the help of the police he got into a taxi and drove to the station.
Later in interview to Agency “Kryminform” one of the commanders of the militia of the self-proclaimed Donetsk national Republic Igor Butler said that he and his company “Poroshenko drove to the station”. “He’s only two times in the face gave. If I knew the future President, would have killed,” said Butler in July 2014.
