"IT IS DIFFICULT FOR THE PARTIES TO MAKE A DEAL"

- Ukraine and the international community did not recognize the elections to the parliaments of the self-proclaimed "Donetsk People's Republic" and "Luhansk People's Republic", however, Russia gave its positive assessment.

- The leadership of the Russian Federation assessed the elections in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as the free will of the population of these regions. Thus, the position of Russia strongly differs from the assessments of Ukraine and the West. Public opinion in Russia is on the side of the republics, and they consider the DPR and LPR as real republics with actual voters and political leaders. Russian public opinion has little interest in who exactly won these elections, as leaders often change there. But they know that in Donbass people rose up in defence of the interests of Russia, and following the example of the Crimean population, they want to live together with Russia.

As for the new leaders of the DPR and LPR, Zaharchenko and Plotnitskiy are people who are approved by and depend on Russia. They are not poorly managed fanatics who can come up with something phoney after the elections.

The elections made it possible to increase the controllability and manageability of these territories. The Russian Federation did not officially recognize these elections, but expressed its respect for the free will of the population of Donbass. Interestingly, for Russian citizens the words "recognition" and "respect" are the same thing. The fact that the government did not use the term "recognition of the elections" is meant for the Western audience. Moscow thus makes it clear that Russia is ready to compromise on the conflict in Ukraine, but within reasonable limits.

- In which case may Russia recognize the "DPR" and "LPR"?

- In theory, it is possible if the conflict worsens. But for the time being, this issue is not on the agenda of the Russian government. The thing is that recognition will lead to new sanctions from the West, as well as other problems. The scenario of Transnistria is more likely. Officially, Russia considers it part of Moldova but actually supports it in all possible ways. It is a more likely scenario in Donbass. For the time being, it is difficult to say whether Donbass will be a frozen conflict. In Transnistria, they shot more than 20 years ago, but in Donetsk and Luhansk they shoot every day. There is a long way to go to the freezing of the conflict.

- Can these elections encourage other Ukrainian regions to demand independence from Kiev?

- I do not think it is possible without war. If hostilities resume, different scenarios are possible. There is a threat of a large-scale war. But it is highly unlikely that the population of other Ukrainian regions will begin to revolt as in other regions of Ukraine there is very little pro-Russian population. Many have left for Russia as well as for the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, while others do not dare to rise up for fear of prosecution. The Ukrainian authorities tightly control the situation in Kharkov, Odessa and other regions.

- The Ukrainian authorities have announced plans to stop funding rebel-held regions... 

- The termination of funding means that the payment of pensions, social benefits and others will stop. Donetsk and Luhansk have no funds to replace those payments. The economy of the regions has fallen into decline because of the war, and it is a big question who to levy taxes on. There are mines, but in most cases their operation is illegal. It is unlikely that Russia has the opportunity to undertake to support these devastated regions. By the way, a large part of the population remaining there is pensioners. It is clear that the Ukrainian authorities expect that discontent will start growing there and an uprising will begin. But this is an unlikely option because despite all dissatisfaction no one will take up arms. One gets a deadlock. It can be resolved only if there is a common compromise. But there is no possibility of a compromise in sight, and there are only signs of the worsening of the conflict. The thing is that for the militias and field commanders, even formal return to the Ukrainian state is unacceptable. A man who raises the Ukrainian flag and expresses his wish to return the region to Ukraine will be simply executed without trial. At the same time, Ukraine is not ready to make any big and real compromises. Kiev is using the respite to prepare for a new war. Therefore, it is very difficult for the parties to the conflict to make a deal.