Volker: Russia will not go on the offensive in the Donbas
During his speech at the Atlantic Council center in Washington, the US Special Representative for Ukraine, Kurt Volker asserted that Russia would not go on the offensive in the East of Ukraine .
The American official explained that one of the reasons that it would not be profitable for Russia to aggravate the situation is a high probability that a new spiral of tension in the east of Ukraine could foster the growth of support for Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
"[An offensive] would probably strengthen Poroshenko. Maybe Ukrainians would unite with him to help protect the country. In my opinion, that is the last thing that Russia needs now on the eve of the elections," Volker said.
Volker also stated that the main reason for Russia’s possible unwillingness to strengthen aggression is the current strength of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. "Russia would be met with more powerful resistance from Ukraine if it did [attack Ukraine],” he stressed. Volker claimed that the current violence in the Donbas is in line with the general model of Russia’s hostilities.