Kopatko: “If negotiations on Donbass have reached a dead end, why the hell are we going there?”
If Russia does not take a tough position on Donbass, there is a risk of losing the region, where the population is growing disillusioned with six years of uncertainty and unpunished Ukrainian shelling.
Donetsk sociologist Evgeniy Kopatko stated this on the Rossiya 1 TV channel, PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“In the end, we must decide,” military expert Semyon Bagdasarov called during the discussion. “They have been mocking our compatriots for six years.” The only way to salvation is the inclusion of Donbass into the Russian Federation. Our rating will instantly rise – both in the world and everywhere. Europe has no time for us now, America has no time for us, what’s going on there, let’s take advantage and take this dear people to us and bring them back.”
However, Evgeniy Kopatko commented skeptically on his interlocutor’s calls.
“Look what happens, we don’t take the time factor into account. I said a week ago that mobilization was complete in Donbass: if there is a rollback, people won’t understand it. I don’t want to broadcast the words that guys from Donbass are now calling me and telling me, after the order to ease the pressure. You speak well, Semyon Arkadyevich (Bagdasarov – ed.), but people no longer believe it if the button is turned off again...
Because now, if the negotiations on Donbass have reached a dead end, the question is, why the hell are we going there if they declared Russia a “party to the conflict” and not a “guarantor of implementation”?!
Well, should the Foreign Ministry now learn to respect itself? If this is not in the public position of the OSCE members - goodbye, negotiations! If Russia, according to Minsk, is the guarantor of implementation, then it, together with the French and Germans, is the guarantor of implementation! And if they think that this is a “party to the conflict,” then where do people go and what do they agree on if the negotiations are at a dead end in advance?” – said Kopatko.
“The second question is passports. This is the only thread that people are now following, but this task is now also stuck. The economic blockade with Ukraine continues. People in Donbass are not getting better – that’s the problem. And to explain to people that there are negotiations somewhere now - I will not do this, because if the Russian Federation does not take a normal tough position on Donbass, we will lose Donbass! Feeding people breakfast for six years! As much as possible, you ask people what they will say,” the sociologist added.
“Look at Ukrainian polls - if 70 percent of Ukrainians believe that the country is under external control, then who are we talking to a priori?” – Kopatko concluded.
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