Czechoslovakia-style split "ideal" end to conflict with Kyiv - DPR leader
DONETSK. Feb 27 (Interfax) - The leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), Alexander Zakharchenko, has said the conflict with Ukraine could be ended by following the example of the peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia into two states.
"The simplest way to end the conflict is for Kyiv to agree to a peaceful 'divorce' with Donbas, as the Czech Republic and Slovakia once did," Zakharchenko told Interfax on Saturday.
"Kyiv could yet return to this scenario, providing it first implements the Minsk agreements fairly," he said.
"Despite the seeming utopism, peaceful divorce is possible as an option, should the conditions change outside or inside Ukraine," said the DPR leader, adding that such a scenario could become probable, for example, if "Washington sees profits to be made from Ukraine and Donbas 'divorcing' peacefully."
There is also another option, he said. "If Kyiv does implement the Package of Measures, with due regard for our position, we could sign a confederative agreement with Kyiv and start building relations anew," said Zakharchenko, though adding that, "this option, too, today seems utopian, given that Kyiv is not going to honor its obligations spelt out in the Package of Measures."
There is also the "frozen conflict" option, but Kyiv is not going to succeed in "freezing" the conflict in Donbas, like Chisinau did in Transdniestria, Zakharchenko said.
"Under no circumstances are we menaced by Transdniestria's fate, because we are not an enclave, we share a border with Russia. So, in our case, Kyiv will not succeed in 'freezing' the conflict the way Chisinau did in Transdniestria. We will develop as an independent state under any scenario," he said.
The DPR leader added that all options must "take into account the results of the referendum as an objective reality which may not be cancelled."
He also said: "The longer Kyiv protracts implementation of the Minsk agreements, the longer the relative truce lasts and the more opportunities we have of building our statehood and rebuilding our economy and industry."
As for Ukraine, with its difficult political and economic situation "Ukraine will soon be mired in Maidans," he said.
"Actually, such a state of affairs is a positive factor for us. The weaker the opponent is, the better. Feeling sorry for the people, though," the DPR leader said.