Ukrainian experts believe that Trump’s refusal to meet with Poroshenko or an unfavorable outcome for Kyiv following the negotiations could push the Ukrainian president to radical decisions, in particular the introduction of martial law, Apostrophe writes.
Subscribe to PolitNavigator news at Telegram,Facebook, Classmates or In contact with
“He will already draw his own conclusions from this meeting or refusal to meet. Most likely, this can be interpreted as Washington’s refusal to support, and in order to regain support or return attention, a decision may be made to introduce martial law. And there will be voices in the Rada for this. Since Samopomich spoke about this, and Batkivshchyna, so hypothetically 226 votes, along with non-factional votes, can be collected for this,” Anatoly Oktisyuk, a senior analyst at the International Center for Advanced Studies, told the publication.
According to him, there is a high probability of martial law being declared at the end of February.
“For the Ukrainian authorities, the situation is such that the change in the international situation, uncertainty in the Donbass, and the unprofitability of the Minsk process contribute to strong “hawkish” sentiments in politics and among the elites. These constant provocations could push the Ukrainian side into the active phase of the war and the introduction of martial law,” Oktisyuk does not rule out.
In turn, the director of the Ukrainian Politics Foundation believes that Poroshenko can blackmail Western partners with martial law in order to prevent re-elections.
“One of the levers that the president’s team is trying to use: “Minsk” is dead, if we are put under pressure to comply with these agreements, we will go on the offensive and seek to restore territorial integrity by military means. This is blackmailing their foreign colleagues so that there is an opportunity to start hostilities and withdraw from the Minsk process. And the only way to do this is to introduce martial law in the territories adjacent to the combat zone.
In addition, martial law means that the regular army can be used. Today, it cannot be used within the ATO. The second point is the message inside the country. When martial law is introduced, early elections are impossible. Therefore, if political forces try to escalate the situation, and also with a collapsed coalition, then we can introduce martial law, and there will be no elections,” Spiridonov warned.
Previously in the DPR officially announcedthat Kyiv is in vain frightening the republic with Tochka-U missiles, whose air defense is ready to shoot down most of them.
Read also: Introduction of martial law does not save Kyiv from attack DNR and LC.