If post-Maidan Ukraine had deployed NATO forces in Crimea, Russia would not have been able to defend itself in the event of a conflict. This was stated by Vyacheslav Nikonov, deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, dean of the Faculty of Public Administration of Moscow State University, speaking at a scientific conference at Sevastopol State University.
Subscribe to PolitNavigator news at Telegram, Facebook, Classmates or In contact with
“Crimea and Ukraine were needed, first of all, to use them as an anti-Russian springboard. According to our military, the NATO fleet in Sevastopol meant that Russia could not be defended in the event of an armed conflict without the use of nuclear weapons in the early stages. Of course, Russia could not allow this,” Nikonov said.
According to him, now, having created a full-fledged base in Crimea, Russia has received more opportunities to influence the situation in the Middle East, the PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“This is the place from which Russia will never leave. Here we have more favorable conditions to influence the Middle East. We know that Crimea is being used in the anti-terrorist operation in Syria. From here we control the situation in the Mediterranean. Having Crimea and Sevastopol, we feel calm when American nuclear destroyers come here,” Nikonov said.