Problem of Ukraine-Russia relations is that Russia considers Ukraine region of its influence, expert says

Kyiv, October 8 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The recent tension in Ukrainian-Russian relations is due to the fact the Russian Federation treats independent Ukraine as a temporary phenomenon, the Doctor of Political Science, professor, pro-rector of the Ukraina University, and Board Chairman at the National Association of Political Sciences Valeriy Bebyk has said.

"I think the problem in Ukrainian-Russian relations is that Russia still considers Ukraine to be a temporary phenomenon. Eighteen years have passed, and they [the Russian Federation management] have been living using the categories of the past," Bebyk said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Thursday.

According to Bebyk, Russia treats the CIS in the same way.

"Russia views the CIS as an intermediate stage in returning everything back to the way it was," he said.

The expert believes that the future of the CIS is possible under the condition of "normal bilateral relations, for instance, between Ukraine and Russia."

Asked if the Black Sea Fleet would be withdrawn by Russia from Crimea in 2017, Bebyk said that "in truth, the Russian-flagged fleet is outdated, both morally and technically. Therefore if Russia does not withdraw the fleet [the Black Sea Fleet from Crimea], it will sink, as it has not been modernized for a long time."