Khodorkovsky: Ukraine could develop into second Korea
Former political prisoner and businessman Mikhail Khodorkovsky said the current conflict in Ukraine could develop into something similar to the Korean peninsular, lasting for just as long.
He said the conflict is part of Russian President Vladimir Putin's fabricated conflict with the West, with the aim of diverting internal attention from corruption and incapacity, Unian, Radio Svoboda and Reuters reported.
Russia and the West will not come closer until Putin has left office, he said, adding that sooner or later a change will take place in Russia and the West must be ready to quickly reintegrate Russia, which, Khodorkovsky said, could also mean NATO and EU membership.
He said he does not support weapons aid to Ukraine, as many Russians believe the conflict is between Russia and the United States, not Russia and Ukraine, and US weapons would only fortify that belief.
Khodorkovsky said there is no quick solution to the conflict in Ukraine and it could last as long as the divorce of Korea, which has been split between the north and the south since the Korean War ended in 1953.
Editor: J.M. Laats