“There are all the legislative instruments to satisfy the desire of those who want to become part of the Russian Federation”. Senator of the United Russia party Andrei Klimov, deputy head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Legislative Council, the upper house of the Russian Parliament, said this in an interview with Repubblica. He, however, without confirming the rumors of an upcoming referendum in Donbass and Kherson.
Moscow’s goal would be to break up Ukraine, transforming the South of the country into an area of Russian influence. The first step could be the referendums that Moscow wants to hold in the self-styled people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, while Kherson will declare independence from Ukraine. But the advance may not stop at the Donbass. Then it will be the turn of the construction of an authority in the territories currently occupied by Moscow. With the ultimate prospect of a People’s Republic of Ukraine under the direct or indirect control of Russia.
Klimov is the author of the law “On the procedure of incorporation into the Russian Federation and on the formation of a new federal territory within it” which in 2014 allowed the ratification of the annexation of Crimea. In Repubblica he lists Moscow’s objectives: «The first is to defend the People’s Republics of Donetsk and Lugansk within their former borders. The second is to demilitarize Ukraine, that is, to deprive it of the possibility of resorting to any act of aggression against our country. The third is to denazify. Another goal is to return Ukraine to the status of neutrality proclaimed together with independence in 1991 by themselves. Finally: deprive Ukraine of the possibility of using nuclear weapons. But in the meantime the world is changing. In Ukraine there are many people fed up with this civil war who are looking for solutions to guarantee a peaceful life. But it is up to them to decide how to arrange their life. We will respect their decision ».
Klimov welcomed South Ossetia’s willingness to hold a referendum on annexation. But Lugansk’s separatist leader Leonid Pasechnik also announced a similar upcoming initiative. And Klimov, without confirming, draws MOsca’s design. “I am one of the authors of the law under which Crimea became part of the Russian Federation in 2014. The law dates back to 2001,” explains Klimov. “The goal was not the expansion of the Russian territory as such, but to have the legal possibility of satisfying the needs of certain peoples: both those who live within our country if they want to create new federal territories, both those that theoretically they could ask to join our common space. But the first step is for them to hold a referendum themselves ”.
The independent media Meduza spoke in recent days of the Russian desire to hold two referendums in Donetsk and Lugansk. The sources close to Putin cited also provided an approximate date: consultations should be held between 14 and 15 May. In Kherson, where from May 1st the official currency will be the ruble, there will be no vote for annexation to Russia but for independence from Ukraine. According to Meduza, the referendums should have been held at the end of April, but have been postponed due to the military situation. However, there is also some resistance from parts of the Kremlin, which stems from economic concerns. Some officials think annexing poor regions would result in later support that Moscow cannot afford.
But taking the Donbass would no longer be enough in Moscow. Dmitry Rodionov, director of the Geopolitical Research Center of the Institute of Innovative Development, which provides studies and analyzes to the Ministry of Defense, tells Corriere: «Months ago we received the task of studying various theoretical projects of partition of Ukraine. But the first, that is the simple liberation of the Donbass, is now overtaken by the events and the obstinacy of the Kiev regime in postponing the surrender ». And he adds: «It is no longer a question of preventing Ukraine from joining NATO. But to create a new nation that protects us from Western maneuvers “
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