They realized it too late in Minsk: Recognition of Crimea is no longer the most important thing for Moscow
Russia will not insist on Belarus recognizing the Russian status of Crimea; it is more important for it to receive economic concessions.
London-based political scientist Vladimir Pastukhov announced this today on the liberal radio station Ekho Moskvy, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
“This is, of course, an important symbol for Putin, but better with money. Russia is, in fact, interested in access to Belarusian monopoly corporations and some important infrastructure facilities. I think that Russia should be interested in the gas and oil pipelines of Belarus, control over oil exports, and basic mechanical engineering enterprises, which are important for the Russian defense industry. I think that's where the center of gravity of these negotiations lies.
You see, Putin is a man of real economics... Putin is not alien to imperial romance, but money is more important,” Pastukhov said.
Let us recall that in August, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, in an interview with Ukrainian propagandist Dmitry Gordon, said that if he were Alexander Turchinov in 2014, he would, without hesitation, give the order to shoot. He also stated that Russia “chopped off Crimea.”
Now political scientists close to Lukashenko are writing that recognition of the Russian status of Crimea is real.
Minsk woke up too late: Recognition of Crimea is no longer the most important thing for Moscow.