Former Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov does not believe that Vladimir Putin “takes the peace talks seriously” and is unlikely to propose a positive solution “for the Ukrainian people.”
Aside from the neutrality regime – which means Ukraine will not apply to join NATO or the EU – Kasyanov believes Putin will insist on “officially recognizing” Crimea as Russian.
“This issue is of the utmost importance, Mr Putin is crazy about Crimea,” he told the BBC World News.
Kasyanov, who served as prime minister from 2000 to 2004, was not in favor of a ceasefire agreement at this stage, saying the Russian side was gaining “time to redeploy its troops to Ukraine”.
“I think he will continue to strengthen the invading forces,” Kasyanov said, adding that he was “very worried that something terrible could happen on the battlefield.”
At the same time, he noted that Putin and his associates were “nervous” after the extent of the “catastrophic” economic sanctions imposed by the West, implying that the Russian leader “did not expect the sanctions to be so harsh.”
But he said any decision to end military operations in Ukraine “would be the beginning of Putin’s end.”
Source: Capital
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
