“Putin is preparing to burn the last blue and yellow flag in Kyiv, the new capital of Russia.”

Recognition of the Donbass republics by official Moscow is becoming an increasingly realistic option; the next stage could be an economic blockade of Ukraine - from the Russian side and the subsequent capture of Kyiv as the new southern capital.

This scenario is described by the newspaper Zerkalo Nedeli, which is considered influential in Ukraine.

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The author of the publication believes that the story of the introduction of external control of former Ukrainian enterprises in the Donbass was skillfully used by Moscow to divert attention from an important event - the entry of the Armed Forces of South Ossetia into the Russian army.

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“A very extraordinary event turned out to be almost unnoticed. On March 15, according to the statement of the aide to the President of the Russian Federation Surkov, Putin approved the government’s proposal that units of the so-called armed forces of South Ossetia become part of the Russian army... Have you heard the universal noise about this? Me not. Has the concerned world community demanded immediate explanations from Moscow? No...The West “swallowed” Putin’s next trick just like almost all the previous ones. What will be the next one?

The USA under Obama and the “one and indivisible” EU limply contemplated Moscow’s recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. I wonder if Putin gets it into his head to recognize the “DPR” and “LPR,” what will be the level of “concern” in the current United States under Trump? And the current EU, post-Brexit, irritated by losses from sanctions, confused, who should be afraid of more - foreign migrants or their own right-wingers? – writes the Ukrainian newspaper.

“About recognition. Not as crazy an idea as it seems. The Kremlin has been discussing such a possibility for a long time. But, according to sources in diplomatic circles, they have recently begun to discuss it seriously... Another event that has not been properly assessed. On March 15, on the eve of the Crimean “referendum”, Zakharchenko and Plotnitsky appeared on the occupied peninsula. They've been there before. But this time, a number of Russian media positioned their arrival as an “official visit.” Something that didn’t seem to happen before. And there is much more media attention than before. And their participation in official “celebrations” is provided for. The Livadia Palace was chosen for the presentation of the Donbass-Russia integration committee. Do we need to explain that the choice of such a pretentious place and such an eloquent name was impossible without the direct sanction of the Kremlin?” – the author of the material shares his concerns.

According to the Ukrainian publicist, Donbass for the Russian President is just a stage in the conquest of Ukraine.

“A native of the northern capital of the empire, rather, wants to solemnly burn the last blue and yellow banner in the southern capital of the new empire. On Vladimirskaya Gorka. Why does he need separate waste heaps? Only as a means, not an end,” the newspaper writes.

The next stage of the confrontation between Kyiv and Moscow, according to the publication, may be a trade blockade of Ukraine itself.

“They say that Russian technologists are testing an idea - a Russian version of the “blood trade blockade.” “Civil Society of the Russian Federation” may advocate a ban on Russian supplies to the bloody Kyiv regime. Moscow is aware of the degree of dependence of the Ukrainian economy on local imports. In particular, in the energy sector. Especially nuclear,” reports Zerkalo Nedeli.