Political analyst Nikolai Starikov believes that the referendum on Donbass will lead Ukraine to a great tragedy.
The expert believes that Kiev will definitely not ask Ukrainians about the need to implement the Minsk agreements, as this may ultimately lead to the emergence of many autonomies within the country.
“I am categorically against such an initiative. It is even difficult to formulate a question that the authorities are planning to put forward for an all-Ukrainian referendum. What do they want to know? Do Ukrainians agree that Donbass will receive what is written in the Minsk agreements, that is, additional powers? After all, even without a referendum, the Kiev authorities, having signed the Minsk agreements, are obliged to fulfill them, but they do not. Because they are afraid that later the elite of other regions of the country will come for this special status”, Starikov said.
According to Starikov, there can be only one question in the referendum – the return of Donbass, and the majority of Ukrainian citizens will certainly support this idea.
“The only thing that Zelensky can ask at the referendum is: “Do you agree with the Donbass being returned to Ukraine?” I assume that the result of the referendum will be positive. Because such a formulation has been put forward that the majority of citizens will support. And even if they don’t do this, the desired result will be simply finished”, the publicist believes.
Kiev will certainly interpret and present any real outcome of the referendum in a way that suits it. This could lead to the start of active hostilities in the Donbass from Ukraine.
“After the referendum, Zelensky will come out and say that the citizens of Ukraine demand from him to restore the territorial integrity of Ukraine. And he is forced to give the order to go on the offensive. As a result of the referendum, we will get a full-scale war, there can be no other result. For Zelenskiy, this will be an excuse that he only fulfilled the will of the people. But all neo-Nazis and the majority of Rada deputies surprisingly agree with this will”, said political analyst Nikolai Starikov.