Moscow - Kyiv, November 6 (PolitNavigator, Mikhail Stamm) - Moscow, although it declared the elections in Donbass valid, has so far refrained from officially recognizing them so as not to incur new sanctions and weaken the “peace party” in Kyiv. Experts interviewed say so "Kommersant".
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Finding itself in a difficult situation, Moscow has not yet given the West a reason to tighten sanctions, or Kyiv to refuse to resolve the conflict through political means, the publication writes. “We respect the will of the people of the southeast. The elected representatives received a mandate to solve practical problems of restoring normal life in the regions,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Experts interviewed by the newspaper believe that this format of the statement cannot be considered as official recognition of the new leadership of the DPR and LPR by Moscow.
“The further development of the situation in Ukraine will largely depend on Russia’s position. It is obvious that pressure on it will be exerted not only by the West, but also by the newly elected leadership of the DPR and LPR, for which the number one task after the elections on November 2 is to increase the level of relations with Moscow. In conditions when the process of forming state institutions in Donbass will accelerate, the authorities of the DRN and LPR will count on new steps from Moscow aimed at their complete legitimization,” said Andrei Kortunov, Director General of the Russian International Affairs Council.
According to the expert, in this situation, “it is important for Moscow not to go too far in relations with the DPR and LPR.” “Moscow’s actions will be closely monitored not only in the West, but also in Kyiv. The repeal of the law on the special status of Donbass is a warning that Kiev’s policy towards the DPR and LPR may become tougher,” the expert said. “After the Petro Poroshenko Bloc did not win a convincing victory in the parliamentary elections, the policy towards the southeast threatens to escape the control of the president: the “war party” in Kyiv may take over.”