YEREVAN. – The aim of Russian proposals on the settlement of Ukrainian crisis is to establish external control over Ukrainian state through control over certain Ukrainian regions, political analyst Vladimir Gorbach said.

Gorbach, an analyst at the Kiev-based Institute of Euro-Atlantic Cooperation, participated in the discussion “The choice of Crimea and its regional influence”.

The analyst is convinced that mentioned proposals showed the true attitude of the Russian state towards Ukrainian people.

On Monday Russia offered U.S. and EU to form a contact group on Ukraine, urging for new constitution that will give Ukrainian regions broad powers.  

“Ukraine, naturally cannot accept this. They realize that Russia will not stop after Crimea,” he noted.

In contrast to the “frozen” conflicts in the Caucasus, he said, the conflict over Ukraine has not yet passed the hot phase. You can still win back since there are no open clashes.

 “I do not exclude that in a while, when the situation in Russia will change too, because Vladimir Putin will not last forever, it will be possible to return to dialogue with the Crimea citizens about the reunion already with Ukraine,” he said.

Gorbach said the West exceeded his expectations, as consolidation of the western states was better than could be expected.

“The West is on the threshold of the third stage of sanctions. The next move is economic sanctions, embargo against Russia,” analyst emphasized.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am