The stalemated conflict in East Ukraine is costing the Russian government a
lot of money. Since the government in Kiev stopped paying pensions and benefits
to residents in the pro-Russian separatist-controlled areas, Moscow, for the most
part has picked up the tab. The Kremlin has supplied the rebels in the area
with weapons and Russian troops have been “in-country” as well, although the
Kremlin still denies this.
Thursday, at a meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk, the
parties who agreed upon the ceasefire in East Ukraine in February of 2015
stated they will attempt to “enforce” the peace agreement terms on all parties.
The Associated Press reports that Russian envoy and former speaker of the
Russian Parliament, Boris Gryzlov, promised to make new efforts to enforce a
shaky cease-fire in eastern Ukraine.
Martin Sajdik, representative to the Organization for
Security and Co‑operation in Europe (OSCE), said the parties agreed to try
again to fully halt fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russia rebels and
discussed new efforts to exchange war prisoners.
Mr. Gryzlov, a member of Russia’s
presidential Security Council, is seen as more influential than his
predecessor, Mikhail Zurabov. His appointment has been interpreted by some
analysts as a sign the Kremlin wants to intensify the talks.
In addition to East Ukraine, Russia’s
annexation of the Crimean Peninsula has been more expensive than planned for
the Kremlin’s budget. Recent saboteurs have destroyed power lines from Ukraine
into Crimea forcing Russia to provide emergency power and adding to already exorbitant
costs.
The Russian bombing campaign in Syria
against anti-Assad forces and the Islamic State has also drained Moscow’s coffers. It seems the Kremlin would like to now put
an end to the frozen conflict in East Ukraine for the time being while they
direct resources to the Middle East. Of course, Russian President Vladimir
Putin will retain the ability to ratchet up the fighting in the Donbass region
if he so desires. But for now, Moscowwould like to make operations there somewhat less
expensive.
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