Is the latest wave of separatism, enforced with armed men, really the last decisive assault on the part of Putin’s Russia?

Uladzimir Matskevich, the head of the Board of the International Consortium “EuroBelarus”, says not to be too hopeful.

— Of course, we would like it to be the last attempt o Moscow; but at the same time we are afraid that it is not a mere attempt, but a part of long-going Russia’s strategy aimed at destabilization of situation in Ukraine, — noted Uladzimir Matskevich in the interview with the EuroBelarus Information Service. — I’ve been repeatedly saying, and, obviously, will have to repeat it even more: Russia isn’t aimed at Ukraine’s annexation or direct occupation of the country; it is impossible for Moscow to do now due to economic reasons. Even annexation of Crimea is too big for Russia. Having annexed Crimea, Russia expects that the world community and the loans of international financial institutions will follow. Kremlin’s genuine aim is destabilization and chaos in Ukraine so that Moscow would be able to control this territory and no independent force or strong statehood would appear in Ukraine. At the same time Russia can’t leave Ukraine in peace because it strongly depends on Ukraine’s high-tech technologies, which are mostly concentrated in its eastern part. Russia can do without mineral resources that Ukraine has; but it can hardly do without Ukraine’s aircraft building and defense industry. At the same time Russia could have had normal trade relations with Ukraine’s authorities that would control all these production complexes; however, Russia still hasn’t learnt to trade with the independent neighboring countries — it needs full administrative control. And such control is only possible in weak Ukraine’s state and chaos in the country, which Russia is aimed at. Starting from the mid 1990s Russia is constantly interfering in Ukraine’s electoral processes and is present in Ukraine’s information space. And let me recall my simple question back from January: what is to become with all the weaponry, which was stolen from Ukraine’s military men? Though it was few, but under the pretext of that stolen weaponry Russia is now selling extra lots to its provokers and gunmen.

— Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that Russia will stop only where Ukraine allows it to stop. Do you agree that it is due time for Kyiv to undertake maximally tough actions in order to stop Kremlin?

— Let’s face the truth. The revolt is spreading; but this revolt is local, people in eastern Ukraine do not support these actions. In short, these are local fighting groups, specially trained and supported by Russia. And no sovereign state can stand the actions of such bandits at its territory. But yet again, after the years of corruption both central and local Ukraine’s authorities together with the Ukraine’s law enforcement agencies and army have become weakened, and it is extremely hard for the provisional government to manage all this. I think that anarchy and insubordination to the central authorities are taking place in Ukraine’s state.

— Will the international community provide real help or will rather limit itself to the statements?

— I think that the position of Europe, USA and NATO will be getting tougher. But it is happening very slowly. The West got out of habit of decisive actions in the neighboring territories, and such brute Russia’s actions are still a surprise for the West. It is difficult to accept that it is not some spontaneous actions but rather Putin’s doctrine, adopted as far back as at his first presidential term. And until the West gets to understand that it is an implementation of a long-time strategy it won’t be able to give adequate reaction. And meanwhile Ukraine will have to resolve the problems, counting only on its own forces and declarative support of the West.