Putin says war with Ukraine is ‘unlikely’ as fighting goes on despite truce

Vladimir Putin has said war between Russia and Ukraine is “unlikely”. The Russian president was being interviewed on state television when he was asked if he expected a war between the two countries. Mr Putin also said he did not see the need for another meeting with France, Germany and Ukraine on peace in the region and that he hoped the accords agreed to in Minsk would be respected. Mr Putin’s words came after Ukraine had halted the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the frontline, blaming continuing attacks from pro-Russian rebels. Kiev had said it was preparing to pull back in line with the ceasefire agreed on 12 February.

I think that such an apocalyptic scenario is unlikely and I hope this will never happen.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a response on the Kremlin’s website

The truce requires both sides to withdraw heavy artillery to between 16 and 44 miles (25 and 70km). However, Ukraine claims there have been attacks against its forces and is now refusing to budge. What the Russian president does next in Ukraine is key to the country’s future, as well as that of Europe and his own. With Crimea in Russian hands for almost a year and eastern Ukraine controlled by separatists loyal to him, Putin could allow the rebels to try to seize more territory with what the West says is Russian military support.

After winning the Cold War, the whole of Europe is losing it now, and it is entering the next phase of international relations disunited, again on the verge of confrontation or even a major war.

Sergei Karaganov, head of Russia’s independent Council for Foreign and Defence Policy think-tank

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