GORKI, February 1. /TASS/. It is beneficial for Ukraine to pin all its failures and miscalculations on tense relations with Russia, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev believes.
"It is more beneficial for [Ukraine] to maintain the situation in tension, do nothing about it, and use this mobilization trend to explain all miscalculations and failures inside their country," he told Russian media Monday.
According to Medvedev it is always more convenient to blame one’s failings on some external effect.
"Can’t you see, there is an occupier nation, as a result, we failed." - "And why did you fail here?" - "That’s because the Russians meddled." - "And there?" - "They’re to blame there, as well," Medvedev said. "One can keep this situation going endlessly, holding the country’s population in suspense, and even proposing to maintain this line in the future."
"This is regrettable, but the Ukrainians must make a decision here themselves," Medvedev believes.
He pointed out that, while Ukrainian nationalists and President Vladimir Zelensky say that "it would be good to abolish the Minsk Agreements," it is "impossible to actually do so, because it will void the sanctions against Russia."
"They seek to derail this process that has been launched in any way they can. But there is nothing else [to replace it]. If we abandon it now, there will be nothing at all. And this is the worst," he added.
Therefore, there is no alternative to moving forward within the Normandy Four format, using the Minsk Agreements, the official believes.
"If they comprehend it one day, then there could be at least some positive developments. After all, this is in the interest of Ukraine itself, as well as Ukraine’s southeast. But they do not want to do that, because [there are] internal problems; besides, there are advisors on this matter, including those across the pond," Medvedev concluded.