Aćimović: If Russians capture Zaporizhzhia and Mykolaiv, Ukraine will be in darkness, and the BiH economy is also heading there

By Ernad Metaj

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Former honorary consul of Ukraine in Austria and career diplomat from BiH Draško Aćimović has openly called on BiH authorities to help Ukrainians, as well as their own citizens. Human lives are being lost in the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the infrastructure of a country is being destroyed, and a tectonic shift is occurring on a global level.

- Ukraine has been attacked militarily, but the rest of the world is also at war. This is the first global financial and economic war with still unforeseeable consequences. In this regard, the BiH authorities should take urgent measures to protect the interests of BiH citizens, but also show solidarity with the Ukrainian people who are going through the most difficult period in their history, Aćimović told Patria.

Due to its complex structure and various political interests, BiH can primarily help Ukraine on a human level. According to Aćimović, children are being orphaned in Ukraine, and BiH should show readiness to participate in their care.

- I have many friends in Ukraine and I am in constant contact with them. As a human being, I find it difficult to endure the suffering, pain, and uncertainty they are facing. They did not expect war even in their worst-case scenarios. Foreign diplomats in this country also underestimated Putin's intentions, believing that it would be enough to move their diplomatic and consular representations to western Ukraine. They were mistaken, says Aćimović.

In his opinion, it would be desirable for Ukraine to join the EU as soon as possible. This, he says, would create the conditions for this country to be quickly connected to the European energy system, as Ukraine faces even tougher days if the Russians succeed in their intention to take away its energy autonomy.

- As I announced, Russia and Belarus disconnected Ukraine from their electricity system on February 27. There is electricity thanks to Ukrainian power plants, which are targets of the Russian invasion. If the Russians manage to capture Zaporizhzhia and Mykolaiv, where large nuclear power plants are located, Ukraine will remain in darkness and in an even more difficult situation than it is now, Aćimović believes.

Due to the Russian aggression against Ukraine, economic darkness has loomed over BiH, and its greatest enemies could be politicians if they do not take adequate measures urgently.

- The biggest danger for BiH is the government that is doing nothing. Unprecedented battles are taking place on world stock exchanges. The latest information says that wheat has increased by 5 percent, a barrel of oil is $103, and an increase to $115 is expected. I previously urged the authorities in BiH to buy supplies when prices were favorable so that they could overcome the next few months without major consequences, but nothing has been done. Our only luck is that we have a currency board, without which the euro would probably be worth around 20 marks now, says Aćimović.

Energoinvest previously announced that an increase in gas prices is also possible, and all this indicates that the prices of food in BiH will continue to rise. We are left with the problem of different political aspirations, which, fueled by Russian aggression against Ukraine, could further destabilize BiH.

- The only correct policy in BiH at this moment is to unite all forces to ease the lives of citizens, says Aćimović.