Russia will fight for two key positions to the end — political analyst

He shared his opinions on Espreso TV.

"There are two positions that Russians will fight for until the end: the lifting of sanctions and the return of frozen assets. This is rarely discussed, but behind closed doors, this is exactly what will be talked about. We understand that sanctions come in two types. The first is economic sanctions, such as the transfer of technology or the return of companies like McDonald's to Russia. The second are humanitarian sanctions, which, for both me and the Russians, are crucial: will the Russian ballet perform in New York, or will their national team compete in the Olympics in Italy next year? This moment is very important for Putin, so such a scenario cannot be allowed," mentioned Viktor Bobyrenko.

In his opinion, freezing the war would mean a defeat for Ukraine because its territories would remain under occupation. For Putin, it would be a 'Pyrrhic victory,' but if sanctions are lifted, it would be a complete victory for him.

"If sanctions are lifted and Russian assets are returned, it would mean that evil is not only unpunished, but forgiven. This would signify not only Ukraine's defeat but also the defeat of the entire civilized world," concluded the expert from the Bureau of Analysis and Policy.

• On January 23, correspondent Tetiana Vysotska reported that Hungary continues to signal the possibility of Orbán voting against the extension of sanctions against Russia. The most alarming prospect for Ukraine now is that Russia's frozen assets could be unfrozen after January 31 if Orbán or Fico so decide, and if the European Commission fails to find mechanisms to pressure them.