Interfax: Separatist leader challenges Ukrainian president to “duel” to “put end to war”

(Interfax – Luhansk, November 19, 2014) Head of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic Ihor Plotnytskyy [Igor Plotnitskiy] has written an open letter to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, in which he challenged Poroshenko to “engage in a duel”.

“I am totally convinced that residents of the Luhansk and Donetsk people’s republics, the entire population of Ukraine, all normal people on earth most of all want peace. So why are you thinking yourself into considering worst-case scenarios? I suggest you consider only one, but a very good one: let us engage in a duel taking the cue from ancient Slavic leaders and good Cossack chieftains. The winner will dictate his conditions to the other side,” the LPR head’s letter to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said.

“I am listing our conditions here: immediate cessation of any military activities, withdrawal of all legal, semilegal, paralegal [as published] and illegal Ukrainian military formations beyond the administrative borders of Luhansk and Donetsk regions, prompt beginning of talks on the conclusion of a peace treaty between Ukraine on the one side and the Luhansk People’s Republic and also the Donetsk People’s Republic, on the other. We do not need anything on top of that. We are ready to restore all mutually beneficial economic ties with Ukraine immediately after the ratification of a peace treaty,” the letter added.

According to the letter, to make the duel fair, each side has the right to bring 10 observers-seconds and 10 mass media representatives each. “I do not object to it being broadcast live by any television channel if you find it possible. I leave the choice of site and weapons to you,” Plotnytskyy added.

The LPR head called on Poroshenko to prove that he is ready to shed his own blood.

At the same time, Plotnytskyy expressed confidence in his victory in a possible duel: “Our cause is the right one, victory will be ours. We have proven it once and can do it once again, but again at the expense of deaths and blood of many people from both sides. What for? Let Petro Oleksiyovych shed his blood at least once and prove to the people that elected him that he is really the head [of state] and that he is up to making a stand for his own people even at the expense of his own life.”

Responding to journalists’ questions about the Ukrainian president’s possible reaction to this challenge, Plotnytskyy said: “Most likely, there won’t be any (reaction)”.