Russia to further promote practices of creeping integration of occupied territories - ex-FM

06.01.2022 16:00

Ukrinform

In the temporarily occupied territories of Luhansk and Donetsk regions, Russia is creating a situation that would allow the Kremlin to pursue any decision in the future – ranging from the region’s return into the Ukrainian political and legal field on Russian terms and up to its integration with Russia.

The opinion was expressed by ex-Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, who penned an oped for ZN.ua.

The diplomat has noted that Russia continues to actively issue Russian passports to residents of the occupied territories, and suggested that in 2022, the number of newly-naturalized citizens will exceed a million.

In addition, creeping integration through passports is complemented by creeping economic integration. "Putin's decree on the recognition of goods produced in the occupied territories as those produced in Russia, is just about that," said the ex-minister.

He also noted that, according to opinion polls, the share of those who seek Ukraine to regain control of the region is usually between 10% and 20%, while in the future we will be faced with a new generation that is currently studying according to Russian curriculums, by teachers, who, just as the vast majority of those paid by the occupation government in Donbas, are definitely not our sympathizers.

"In fact, Russia is creating a situation in the occupied Donbas that allows the Kremlin to make any decision in the future – from its return to the Ukrainian political and legal field on Russian terms to integration into Russia. I repeat: in the current situation, the least the Kremlin has is the prerequisites for pursuing a full range of solutions," Klimkin said.

He added that their cost may differ, but the Kremlin has significant room for maneuver, while that of Ukraine is too small. According to the expert, the Kremlin has begun to work out in the occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions the option of reintegrating territories that Moscow believes belong to the Russian imperial space.

"What we’re seeing now is a test run, whose results will give Russia experience it will replicate. This is well understood in the West but, in fact, is not actually being discussed in our country," the ex-minister stated.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a joint press conference with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock that the U.S. and the EU have identified two ways to influence Putin on the Ukraine issue: diplomacy and deterrence with far-reaching consequences and losses for Russia, should it resort to another act of aggression.