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Vitali Klitschko (Photo: REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko)
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko had repeatedly tried to arrange
a face-to-face meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss Kyiv’s
problems amid constant Russian attacks but had received no response, the mayor
told Suspilne public broadcaster on Nov. 5.
The mayor said communication between the central government
and city authorities was essential, despite the president’s heavy workload,
because Kyiv is the “heart of the country.” Klitschko clarified that Zelenskyy
had not directly refused to meet with him.
“Well, it looked like sending a signal into space,”
Klitschko said, describing the situation.
Klitschko also commented on Zelenskyy’s proposal to create a
special office for Kyiv’s authorities that could include former Prime Minister
Volodymyr Groysman and former Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov.
Klitschko said he learned about the initiative from the media.
“On the other hand, we have a sufficiently professional team
that is working,” he said.
“If there are proposals and assistance from the state, we
will be very grateful. But unfortunately, there is no assistance in many areas.”
Klitschko also responded to the president’s comments about
Kyiv’s allegedly inadequate preparations for winter. He called the assessments
strange and unfounded, saying central government representatives had not spoken
with him or the heads of relevant city departments to evaluate preparations for
the heating season.
On Oct. 9, Zelenskyy criticized Kyiv authorities for
failing to prepare for renewed Russian air strikes on the capital’s critical
infrastructure.
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