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Russian President Putin does not give up his thoughts, even though he knows that the international community will strongly protest and impose sanctions.

To find out what Putin was thinking about sending troops to Ukraine, we interviewed former Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Fedorov.



Correspondent Kim Soo-hyung from Washington will deliver the details.



<Reporter>



Former Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Fedorov, who attended a video interview with SBS in Moscow, is part of Putin's policy advisory group.



Former Deputy Minister Fedorov interpreted Putin's failure to order troops to enter Ukraine because he was conscious of more severe sanctions.



[Andrei Fedorov / Former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia: President Putin did not order the dispatch of troops, but ordered the preparations for dispatch.

(If dispatched), the Russian army has not yet entered because it will be the basis for a second heavy sanctions.]



The rebel forces of Donetsk and the Lugansk Republic have controlled only 1/3 of the Donbas area, and Russia If the military crosses this border, it is predicted that a large-scale bloody clash with the Ukrainian government forces will be inevitable.



[Andrei Fedorov/Ex-Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs: (Do you think the Russian army will continue to advance?) This is the most difficult question in Moscow today.

If Russia deploys its troops into this region (beyond the rebel territories), it will be a very serious war with many deaths.]



He said a proposal for annexation with Russia, expected to pass with overwhelming support, could be put to a referendum in rebel regions.



In that case, it was predicted that Russia could go beyond the rebel area and take over the entire Donetsk and Lugansk provinces by force, in the name of territorial restoration.



[Andrei Fedorov / Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia: This means that Russia must take back the entire Donetsk Oblast and Lugansk Oblast regions.]



Putin's goal to heighten tensions is to make Ukraine a neutral zone.



[Andrei Fedorov / Former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia: (President Putin's) The goal is simple.

To make Ukraine a neutral zone.

This is the most important thing to him.]



President Putin's observation of the strategic nuclear weapons exercise on the 19th was analyzed as an armed demonstration to increase negotiating power.



[Andrei Fedorov/Ex-Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs: Putin is a very clever man.

He understands that starting a nuclear war would be a disaster for Russia as well.]



Former Vice Minister Fedorov said that South Korea's participation in sanctions would not help resolve the problem on the Korean Peninsula.



[Andrei Fedorov / Former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia: (South Korea's participation in sanctions) will not help solve the problem on the Korean Peninsula that has been going on for years.]



How far will Russian President Putin's reckless military march that leads to bloodshed continue ?

The whole world is paying attention.



(Video coverage: Park Eun-ha, video editing: Jo Moo-hwan)



▶ [Site] Putin "I'm not entering the military right now"...

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U.S. and European sanctions