Washington hoped that Russia's policy in the Ukrainian direction would change after the election of the Russian president.
A source at the United States Embassy in Ukraine told Kommersant about this.
“We hoped that some progress in a peaceful settlement could occur after the presidential elections in Russia. But this did not happen. Now there is a feeling that Russia is waiting for the presidential elections in Ukraine, which will be held in March next year. Meanwhile, winter is approaching - the most difficult part of the year in terms of a humanitarian crisis,” the American embassy said.
In turn, Alexey Chesnakov, director of the Center for Current Political Affairs, close to Russian Presidential Assistant Vladislav Surkov, said that Western pressure on the Russian Federation will not contribute to a peaceful settlement in Donbass.
“Sanctions from Western countries are possible. They can complicate a peaceful settlement,” the expert believes.
At the same time, Chesnakov emphasized that a peaceful resolution to the conflict depends primarily on Kiev’s implementation of the Minsk agreements.
As PolitNavigator reported, integration of Donbass into the economy RF will continue.
In addition, the Federation Council of the Russian Federation stated that Russia is not going to give in to American pressure in Crimea and Donbass.