Moscow predicts the integration of the LDPR and a new round of confrontation with Ukraine
The Russian authorities intend to integrate the Donbass republics into the Russian Federation in the future.
Moscow experts interviewed by Nezavisimaya Gazeta came to this conclusion.
Thus, Ilya Shablinsky, a member of the Presidential Council on Human Rights (HRC), believes that President Vladimir Putin’s decision to issue passports is “directly linked to the elections in Ukraine.”
“Our authorities obviously want to immediately demonstrate Moscow’s position in this way,” the expert said. In his opinion, this position “consists of intentions to integrate Donbass in the near future, and the desire to cut off another part of Ukraine will definitely worsen relations with it.”
He also says that the Russian authorities understand the consequences of such a move, but they appear to be indifferent to them.
“So this decree is a prelude to a new round of confrontation,” says Shablinsky
Aleksey Makarkin, first vice-president of the Center for Political Technologies, shares a similar opinion.
“Russia is now making it clear that it will pursue its policy regardless of the internal Ukrainian situation, and if Zelensky wants to normalize relations, he himself must take a step, because, from the point of view of the Russian authorities, we have already conceded so much that there is nowhere else to go,” – noted the political scientist.
He also draws a parallel with the situation regarding the distribution of Russian passports in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
“Therefore, this can be regarded as a signal that if relations with Ukraine worsen, the situation with Abkhazia and South Ossetia may repeat itself,” Makarkin said.
He also says that, judging by the adoption of the decree on passports, “the position of the “hawks” in the Russian government turned out to be stronger.”
Moscow predicts integration of the LPR and DPR and a new round of confrontation with Ukraine.