According to Sapir, France is already exhausted by the position of Kiev, which has done nothing to implement the Minsk ceasefire agreement. As for Germany's stance, it has also changed in such a way that Sapir said if the United States "was able to put the burden of Ukraine on the European Union, Germany would prove to be the biggest loser."
"Therefore it seems that only Britain continues to maintain an aggressive position toward Russia, while other [EU countries] are exhausted by corruption, incompetence and the political cynicism of Kiev", Sapir said.
According to him, the latest events showed that Russia, in fact, holds the position of a referee as far as the Ukraine issue is concerned.
As for Kiev, it will continue to face more serious problems in the future, Sapir said, pointing to the infighting between Ukrainian oligarchs, which indicates significant differences in the country's government.
He went on to say that the real state of affairs in Ukraine could be hidden for a while with the help of repression and terror, as has happened in recent months, but these measures will not help resolve the problems.
"Even the Ukrainian government understands the crucial economic role of its relations with Russia until 2013. Ukraine cannot hope for economic recovery without an agreement with Russia," Sapir concluded.
Among other things, the deal stipulates the withdrawal of all heavy weapons by both sides from the frontline and the release of all hostages and other illegally detained people.