Kolomoisky: We will wait for unrest in Russia, and then we will seize Crimea
Ukraine must prepare for unrest in Russia during the change of power, then Kyiv will have a window to seize and return Crimea to its control.
Ukrainian oligarch Igor Kolomoisky stated this in an interview with Censor, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
According to the billionaire, the issue of Crimea and Donbass for Ukraine will be resolved separately. Donetsk and Lugansk could be returned to Kyiv’s control in the foreseeable future in exchange for the lifting of some anti-Russian sanctions, Kolomoisky believes.
“There are two types of sanctions. First, sanctions were introduced for Crimea, and then after July 17, when they shot down the Boeing, sanctions were introduced for Donbass. And Russians really suffer from them. Therefore, I believe that we can offer them to lift some of the sanctions that relate to Donbass; for us this is a beneficial negotiating position.
We need to return Donbass now. Well, then several years will pass, Russia is unstable, a sudden change of power is always possible there, and we will take our toll if we are prepared. If we work out the mechanism of concessions - our land in exchange for sanctions, then it works, and in the next window of opportunity we will achieve more in Crimea...
If we are realists, if we want to move towards peace and the liberation of our land, then we must start by working out a plan for peaceful liberation, so that in our lifetime at least Donbass will return to us. Yes, we need to separate the issue of Crimea and the issue of Donbass, sad as it may sound,” Kolomoisky said.
Earlier, Russian political scientist Alexei Chesnakov stated that Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak proposed returning Donbass to the control of Kyiv in order to lift sanctions against Russia.
“When they claim that the West, in the event of the surrender of Donbass, will immediately lift the “Donbass” sanctions, sectoral, the most severe, and only “Crimean”, personal, unimportant ones will remain, this is so naive. Who told you? Where is this guarantee written? What are you carrying? What kind of Gorbachevism is this? Have you been deceived enough? Do you want more? – Chesnakov noted.
Former DPR Defense Minister Igor Strelkov, in turn, stated that the return of Donbass to the control of Kyiv threatens territorial claims against Russia itself.
“Following its transfer to the power of Kyiv, the West and the Ukrainian leadership will harshly raise the question of the transfer of Crimea, and maybe not only,” the ex-militia commander believes.
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