News / Interviews

War could erupt anytime in Ukraine: Analyst

Monday, 16 November 2015 6:03 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 16 November 2015 6:03 PM ]

A tank of the Ukrainian forces rides from the front line near the village of Crymske in the Lugansk region on October 5, 2015. (AFP photo)

Press TV has interviewed Fred Weir, a journalist and political commentator in Moscow, to discuss the recent escalation of violence in eastern Ukraine.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: Do you think this is just a case that is too far and in between, considering the fact that there has been relative calm in the past months?

Weir: No it is a reminder that this problem is still there and it is simmering. Nothing has been settled in Ukraine. We have the Minks II Accord, a ceasefire that is generally holding but all of the fundamental and underlying tensions are still there and war could erupt at any time. Nothing is solved.

So this is just a reminder. With everything that is going on in the world Ukraine drops off the headlines and people get the idea that things are okay but they are not.

Press TV: Do you get an idea that there might be some kind of a compromise given the fact that based on what happened in Paris and the terrorist attacks there that now that Cameron is speaking to Putin, you have Obama maybe talking to Putin more in terms of coordination, that Ukraine might be part of those discussions?

Weir: Well, what is happening now in Vienna and around Syria is quite breathtaking, it is really optimistic, it does show that the Russians even when they are behaving outside of the cooperation with the Western alliance, they actually can have a positive impact to change the conversation. This is all ready good.

I do not think it is connected to Ukraine directly but obviously if they get on the same page they do develop a workable solution in Syria or at least some kind of way forward in cooperation, this does have implications for other problems including Ukraine.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk