Putin is obsessed with symbolic things. He needs any military victory in Ukraine before May 9 - Sazonov

He expressed this opinion on the air of Espreso.TV.

"Just as the Russians went through the Chernobyl zone to Belarus, so they can return. They're mobilizing reservists again, so we can't relax. The war is not over and we have not yet won. Putin's madness should be taken into account. Putin and his entourage are obsessed with symbolic things, in particular, at the victory parade on May 9th. This year, Putin wants to hold his own victory parade, not grandfathers' ", Sazonov

Sazonov noted that it is important for the Putin regime to have some kind of military victory before May 9. According to the political scientist, it could be Kharkiv or Odesa.

"Putin dreamed of taking Kyiv, but nothing came of it. Now they can concentrate on taking Kharkiv or Odesa. Now they will really concentrate their forces in the east and south of Ukraine. I am sure that the Kremlin propagandists will soon announce that they were not going to take Kyiv, but only wanted to protect the LPR and DPR.  Therefore, negotiations before May 9 are of no particular importance", Sazonov added.

Sazonov emphasized that Putin and his entourage need a winning image in order to show it to the Russians.

"Negotiations will be held, but until May 9 they will not give any result. It's just not possible. Putin does not need negotiations. He needs to show some pictures for his viewers. Show some kind of victory over Ukraine before May 9", Sazonov added.