KYIV. Aug 28 (Interfax) - Ukrainian businessman Ihor Kolomoisky has said Kyiv should propose the lifting of Donbas-related sanctions against Russia.
"There are two types of sanctions. To start with, sanctions were imposed in relation to Crimea, and then Donbas-related sanctions were put into place after July 17 [2014] when the Boeing plane was downed. Russians are really suffering from them. So, I think we can propose a lifting of Donbas-related sanctions, which would be an advantageous negotiating position for us," Kolomoisky told the online media outlet Censor.NET in an interview.
"Donbas needs to be returned now," Kolomoisky said. "Then a few years will go by, Russia isn't stable, there's always some possibility of a sudden regime change there, and we'll take what's ours if we prepare ourselves. If we create a mechanism of compromises - our land in exchange for sanctions - it will work, and we'll achieve more for Crimea when we see another window of opportunity," he said.
Russia is losing a great deal because of the sanctions, which are constantly tightening, Kolomoisky said. For Russia, Donbas "is a great burden, huge allocations are made from the slim Russian budget for its keep, and the situation is worsening," he said.
Therefore, some sanctions may be lifted thanks to Ukraine's stance, and "reintegration of Donbas will save Russia billions and rid it of responsibility for a population they're barely managing to feed," Kolomoisky said. "Otherwise, we'll have to wage an economic war and to ask why metal made in Donbas is exported and how Russia forges the certificates. For instance, the Chelyabinsk ferrous alloy plant makes deliveries to the Yenakiieve and Alchevsk plants. We can propose its blacklisting, which will stop exports to Europe," Kolomoisky said.
He did not rule out dividing the Minsk Agreements into two packages: one for Crimea, and the other for Donbas, in order to deal with the problems by turn.
As to conditions of lifting Donbas-related sanctions against Russia, Kolomoisky said, "There are three conditions: the first one is peace in Donbas, the second is the pullout of Russian forces, and the third is the restoration of Ukraine's control over the border. The sanctions will be lifted once the conditions are met."
Kyiv should do this "without waiving its sovereignty over Crimea in any way and even step up our efforts in this area," Kolomoisky said. "But if we are realistic and want to advance toward peace and liberation of our land, we should start by elaborating a plan of peaceful liberation in order to regain at least Donbas during our lifetime. Yes, we need to separate the issues of Crimea and Donbas, no matter how sad that may sound," he said.