Oreshkin: Putin managed to consolidate Europe

Russian independent political scientist Dmitry Oreshkin believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin managed to consolidate a divided Europe, although Putin did not at all strive for this.

“Putin expected that the selfish interests of individual countries would lead to the collapse of Western unity, but it turned out the opposite, the West really became consolidated. And this is the merit of Putin, it was he who organized such a situation and drove Russia into international isolation, ”Oreshkin said on Ekho Moskvy. In his opinion, the personal sanctions proposed by the US Senate, including against Putin, are “the last frontier, beyond which there is already a war, and the West will not rush, understanding the Suvorov principle: keep the bullet in the barrel.”

Nevertheless, Oreshkin believes, these new sanctions “will be introduced only as a last resort.” “For example, if the Polovtsian dances with tanks near the Ukrainian border turn into some kind of military action,” he specified. Oreshkin added that Moscow has “no arguments other than force.” And Europe has it, so Georgia, Moldova, the Baltic countries, and Ukraine are also drawn, he pointed out.

“What, besides threats, a “military-technical response,” as Putin put it, can Russia offer? Sanctions against Biden, Stoltenberg? Yes, and they will not go on vacation to Kolyma, they will not invest in investments and everything else – this is a very terrible threat to America, ”Oreshkin laughed.

Although the energy threats against Europe are already being realized: the gas pipeline has been operating in reverse mode for three weeks already, and Gazprom, contrary to business logic, does not increase gas supplies at a high price, but holds back to show that this can end badly.

“But in the long run, the picture is counterproductive. Europe understands that Russian gas supplies are not an element of business, but a lever of geopolitical influence. And therefore, all the games with the gas valve only undermine the chances of Nord Stream-2 for implementation … The pipeline could have been operating and bringing in money for 2.5 years already. But it doesn’t work,” the political scientist recalled.

Any attempts by the Russian authorities to step up these “gas threats” will only lead to further isolation of Russia, and to the fact that Europe will find alternative ways to supply itself with gas.

As for negotiations with the West, according to Oreshkin, Putin needs them in order to create “the illusion that he is a strong leader” and “protects the Motherland from NATO aggression.” NATO, the political scientist is convinced, will not agree to Russian conditions, but in the pro-government Russian media, this whole situation will be presented as “Putin’s victory.”

Oreshkin also recalled the experience of the Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, “who runs two corps ahead of Putin.” “But now he is frankly foolish: the West suddenly showed toughness, did not cave in, he received sanctions on his country, and now what to do with these same migrants? He slowly “pulls” them back from God-saved Belarus and, pay attention, they don’t talk about it on the TV screen, they forgot this topic. And the West has not forgotten, he understood that this is how you should behave with these guys: here you are, take a seat under it, ”concluded Oreshkin.