New confrontation likely between Kiev, pro-Russians: Analyst

Press TV has conducted an interview with Dimitry Babich, a radio host at Voice of Russia, in Moscow, to discuss the Ukraine crisis and the reported deployment of heavy weapons by pro-Russia forces operating in eastern Ukraine.

The following is a rough transcription.

Press TV:  What does the deployment of heavy weapons to this region mean?

Babich: I think this is still an unconfirmed report. I would remind you that in March and in April, the Ukrainian authorities explained several times that pro-Russian rebels were deploying heavy weapons, but this was never confirmed. The [Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe] OSCE very often takes its information from the Ukrainian sources uncritically, and we all know that OSCE is heavily influenced by biggest and most influential members, the United States and the European Union. They are both full supporters of the new regime in Kiev. Also if you look at the big picture, the Minsk agreements are breached by the Ukrainian government because it is quite official that there 300 American soldiers and instructors in Ukraine right now, and are preparing the Ukrainian army for an attack against the rebels.

Meanwhile, the Minsk agreements presuppose that all foreign troops should be removed from the Ukrainian territory. So the Minsk agreements are breached primarily by the new Kiev regime. As for the rebels they hold three percent of the Ukrainian territory. And the rebels represent 52 percent of the Ukrainian voters, who voted for the former president, Yanukovych, in 2010. This president was illegally and violently removed from power with help from the United States and the EU. So I think they have the moral right to have at least three percent, of the country’s territory for themselves. They represent 52 percent of Ukrainian people.

Press TV: But what will happen if the Minsk agreement is broken to its fullest? Would that then mean the end of diplomacy and the beginning of a military solution?

Babich: It looks like both sides are bracing up for another war right now. This is very unfortunate; this is very dangerous for Europe, for Ukraine, for Russia and even for the United States, even though they might not realize this. The Minsk agreement, if you look at the reasons, the whole idea was that the rebel regions would get autonomy in exchange for the re-establishment of the territorial integrity of Ukraine for Ukraine again controlling its border with Russia in full. The problem is that the Ukrainian side was supposed to give these two regions autonomy, it was supposed to do it already two months ago and this was never done.

Basically, the Ukrainian parliament announced that those territories are occupied, all is occupied by Russia. So this is indeed against the Minsk agreement and it is paving the way for another military confrontation. Unfortunately, we have not heard a single critical word from the European Union or from the United States against the Ukrainian president, Poroshenko, and his government. These people seem to be immune from any kind of criticism from the west. And this is encouraging the Ukrainian government, amid a total economic collapse, to prepare for another war with the rebels in eastern Ukraine.

MTM/MKA

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk