Experts say that suggests the Kremlin is tiring of the long stalemate over the war-torn Donbass region, and is readying for a concerted push to solve remaining issues and prompt an end to the Western sanctions that even Mr. Putin admits are “severely harming” Russia’s economy.
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“I am afraid the severance of relations (between Russian Federation and Ukraine) could entail the introduction of visas among other things, which would be undesirable”, he said.
Russia’s FSB security service said on Wednesday that it had thwarted “terrorist attacks” in Crimea this week by Ukrainian military intelligence and beaten back armed assaults, claims that Kiev has fiercely denied.
“I don’t know who’s behind this, whether there’s some rogue factions on both sides trying to provoke things, but I can’t imagine that the political leaders in Ukraine and certainly not in Moscow want to see an escalation at this point”.
On August 10, the Russian Federal Security Council informed about prevention of terrorist acts in Crimea, which were prepared by the Main intelligence office of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry. The move sparked Russia-backed separatists to begin fighting government forces in eastern Ukraine, where deadly battles are still ongoing.
The Friday statement by Russias Defense Ministry came two days after President Vladimir Putin ordered measures to ramp up security in Crimea. It has also been noted that Turkey, another major Black Sea power that keeps a close and usually critical eye on Crimea, has said nothing about the latest developments.
Russia would do its utmost to protect Crimea’s stability and security, while Kiev and its foreign supporters would suffer the consequences if any damage were inflicted on the Russian side, the ministry said.
She said that a peaceful resolution of the conflict is the only possible solution.
The Interfax also quoted an unnamed source with Russian special services saying that one person had been arrested and several more detained, and that they had started providing testimony confirming Kiev’s involvement in the terror scheme. “Heavy fire” from Ukrainian territory resulted in the death of a Russian soldier.
Russian UN ambassador, Vitaly Churkin dismissed concerns about a Russian military build-up.
There are two sets of overlapping events: the supposed recent attack on Crimea, and Russia’s build-up there.
Russia is said to be considering severing diplomatic ties with Ukraine with the Russian newspaper Izvestia reporting that “Moscow is considering this option”.
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“There is chaos in Kiev, they don’t know what to do about Donetsk”, Churkin said.
