Ukrainian experts split on prospects for relations with Russia after State Duma elections
Kyiv, December 5 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukrainian experts are split in their opinion on how relations between Kyiv and Moscow will change after the elections to the State Duma.
"After the election of United Russia, and Vladimir Putin's future election as Russian president, the pressure on Ukraine will still be unimaginable," Director of the Shevchenko Institute of Political and Sociological Analysis Volodymyr Bondarenko said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Monday.
He said that Russia would soon try to resolve the issue of establishing control over the Ukrainian gas transport system.
"Russia is laying claim to our gas transport system and our industry, and it will try to achieve this goal," he said.
Political psychoanalyst Tamara Tudvaseva, in turn, noted that major changes in relations between Ukraine and Russia should not be expected, and that they will remain stable.
"No matter how the situation develops in Russia, the people of Ukraine and Ukrainian psychology will in fact regard the elections in Russia rather stably," she said.
Tudvaseva described these elections as "a formality," as, in her opinion, they will not bring any significant changes to the lives of Russians and that the same parties will remain in power.
Political analyst Valeriy Orel, in turn, agreed with the opinion that no changes in Ukrainian-Russian relations should be expected.
"I agree that there will be no changes in relations with Russia. Everything will remain the same. Our relations with Moscow will be the same, as the government in Russia will remain the same," he said.
He added that Moscow was still interested in such "tidbits" as Crimea, the gas transport system, Ukrainian ports, and major industrial enterprises.