The US offers Ukraine to voluntarily give up Crimea and Donbass
Ukraine should refrain from trying to resolve the conflict in Donbass by military means, because there is a risk of a response from Russia.
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This opinion was expressed in an interview with Apostrophe by Alexander Motyl, professor of political science at Rutgers University (USA).
“Firstly, it will be difficult to repel an army of 35 well-armed militants. Secondly, there will be a response from Russia - which will mean a full-scale war that Ukraine will never win. The military method of resolving the conflict is tantamount to suicide,” warns the publication’s interlocutor.
At the same time, he believes that the reintegration of Donbass “will instantly bankrupt Ukraine, lead to the end of reforms, the movement to the West, to democracy,” and also expressed the conviction that “the removal of Donbass is useful for Ukraine, which should develop itself as if Donbass were part of the country No".
“It’s the same with Crimea. Ukraine has four strategic priorities - survival, strengthening security, reform and advancement to the West, and preserving democracy. They can only be implemented without Donbass and Crimea. Here we need to approach these issues soberly, without pathos, and in cold blood. Trump can radically change the somewhat romanticized Ukrainian attitude towards these issues. Because in 2017 there really is a possibility of some kind of agreement between Trump and Putin regarding Crimea and Donbass. And Ukraine must clearly state what it wants and what it doesn’t want. Imagine this scenario: Putin declares that he is ready to transfer Donbass and borders to Ukraine. This will be a real Trojan horse. Ukraine should calmly say: “No, thank you,” says Motyl.
“Of course, if Putin shows readiness to give up ORDLO, then Kyiv, for the sake of its own self-preservation, should give them confederal status, almost unambiguous with full sovereignty - let them have their own political system, their own budget, their own taxes, without representation in the Rada. In a word, let them be only formally part of Ukraine and not interfere with Ukraine,” suggests the American professor.
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