UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Exiled Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky says Russian President Vladimir Putin may seek a Ukraine deal with US President Donald Trump, including Donbas.
As reported by Sky News, Mikhail Khodorkovsky claims Russian President Vladimir Putin appears ready to negotiate a Ukraine deal with Donald Trump.
What did Mikhail Khodorkovsky say about Vladimir Putin’s Ukraine plans?
Mikhail Khodorkovsky stated that any agreement could result in parts of Ukraine being handed over to Russia for territorial gains.
He stated,
“I have the impression that Putin has sent Trump a signal that he is ready for a deal. Putin wants to get the whole of Donbas, those parts of it he hasn’t occupied yet.”
Mr Khodorkovsky warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin could seek territorial gains in eastern Ukraine to unsettle the wider region.
He also questioned whether the strategies of US and Russian leaders could be understood, ahead of a potential Trump-Putin meeting in Hungary.
The exiled tycoon stated, “I have already started getting doubts about understanding Putin and what he really wants,” adding he “never understood” Trump nor made efforts to do so.
What did Mikhail Khodorkovsky say about Britain’s Russia strategy?
Mikhail Khodorkovsky, ex-Yukos chief and former Russian prisoner, now based in London, condemned the UK’s diplomatic ability to respond to Kremlin actions.
He warned that Britain’s Foreign Office no longer holds the expertise on Russia it once had, limiting its ability to influence Moscow or support the Russian opposition.
Mr Khodorkovsky said,
“What Britain is lacking today is expert knowledge about Russia, which it possessed about 30 years ago.”
He stated,
“It would make sense for the UK to also have a dialogue with people who have the knowledge and expertise and who are natural allies of the British government.”
The exiled Russian urged Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper to strengthen Britain’s role in supporting Ukraine and engaging the Russian opposition to counter Mr Putin.
He was asked about how long Russian President Vladimir Putin might remain in power and the potential influence of the Russian opposition.
Mr Khodorkovsky responded,
“I think by putting psychological pressure on Putin, creating a set of problems for Putin that he has to resolve himself or be engaged in resolving himself – and the consolidation of the opposition is one of such problems – all this is actually an opportunity to put pressure on the pivotal point of this conflict. And the pivotal point is Putin himself.”
He warned that he faces life imprisonment if he returns to Russia, adding that new Kremlin charges might expose him to violence outside the country.
Mr Khodorkovsky continues to focus on ending the conflict in Ukraine, despite the personal risks, saying,
“Stopping this war… would be much more important than waiting another few years for Putin to leave the stage.”
What did Eliza Manningham-Buller say about Russia?
Eliza Manningham-Buller, former MI5 chief, warned Britain may already be at war with Moscow due to extensive cyber-attacks, sabotage, and other hostile actions from Russia.
The ex-head of the domestic spy agency said she agreed with Russia expert Fiona Hill, who claimed that Moscow is at war with the West.
She said,
“Since the invasion of Ukraine and the various things I read about that the Russians have been doing here – sabotage, intelligence collection, attacking people and so on.”
Referring to Ms Hill’s comments, Lady Manningham-Buller stated,
“I think she may be right in saying we’re already at war with Russia. It’s a different sort of war, but the hostility, the cyber-attacks, the physical attacks, the intelligence work is extensive.”
What did John Healey say about Putin’s threats?
UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated,
“Putin’s dangerous escalation in Ukraine and across Europe must be matched by ramping up our drone production and strengthening NATO’s air defences.”
He said,
“The UK is stepping up our support to Ukraine by delivering over 85,000 drones in the last six months and signing new industrial partnerships to rapidly develop thousands of new interceptor drones to shoot down Putin’s attacks. This is growing jobs in both the UK and Ukraine.”
Mr Healy added,
“I am also extending the UK’s commitment to NATO’s Eastern Sentry air policing mission to the end of the year to continue to deter Putin from further testing the Alliance.”
How did the UK support Ukraine against Russia?
Britain has delivered over 85,000 military drones to Ukraine in six months and invested £600 million this year to support Ukraine’s defence, actions that Russia views as direct involvement.
The country has also trained 58,000 Ukrainian military personnel and imposed sanctions on over 2,800 Russian targets, including major oil companies and banks.
Luke Pollard, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, stated,
“The UK is stepping up our ironclad commitment to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia’s illegal invasion. This year alone we are spending £4.5 billion on military support for Ukraine, more than ever before.”
He added,
“It was an honour to lead this trade delegation to Kyiv, and to see so many other countries participating in the event. Driving industrial partnerships is essential so that we can learn from their expertise and together build the industrial base we need to defend the UK, deter our adversaries and support Ukraine.”