China News Service, Beijing, February 26 (Reporter Zhang Ni) Since Russia announced a military operation in the Donbas region on the 24th, the situation in Russia and Ukraine has attracted global attention.

Facing the pressure of sanctions from the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom, why did Russian President Vladimir Putin choose to take this step?

What direction will the situation develop in the future?

China News Network interviewed military expert Qiao Liang by telephone.

On February 26, local time, according to the Ukrainian soldiers present, Ukrainian troops fought with a Russian raid team in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine.

The picture shows Ukrainian soldiers collecting unexploded artillery shells after the exchange of fire.

  In the past few days, Russia's "special military operation" has pushed the tension between Russia and Ukraine, which has been fermenting for several months, to a peak.

  As of the 26th local time, 19 Russian federal subjects had received a total of 118,000 residents evacuated from Donbass to Russia.

The United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and others have announced a new round of sanctions against Russia.

  Looking back at history, it is not difficult to find that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is "freezing three feet and not a day's cold", but why did Putin make such a decision at this time?

What are Russia's strategic intentions?

  In this regard, Qiao Liang analyzed in an interview with Chinanews.com that it was because Putin had seen through the weakness of the United States and Europe that he dared to take this step today.

  In his view, Putin's strategic intentions are multi-faceted: first, to ensure high oil prices. For this reason, the "Beixi No. 2" is suspended at all costs, and the loss of the suspension can be made up with oil; The second part of Uzbekistan is another step out of Great Russia; third, it is certain that the United States will not dare to fight with it in Ukraine, and the war will cause the US stock price to fall and the US economic situation will worsen.

As a result, the United States and Europe will be in chaos.

But only relying on sanctions, oil prices remain high, Putin is not afraid.

  "This is a war that Putin has to fight."

  Qiao Liang said that the Russian economy is going from bad to worse, and domestic dissatisfaction is growing.

Under such circumstances, Putin could not think of any other ideas and options except to play the hero of the fighting nation again and use a war to give Russia a shot in the arm.

In the early morning of February 26, local time, multiple explosions occurred in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, and fierce fighting broke out in Vasilikiv, a major town south of Kiev.

The picture shows Ukrainian soldiers boarding an armored personnel carrier.

  As for the United States, Qiao Liang analyzed that US President Biden and his staff saw this very clearly, so this war has become a war that the United States desperately needs.

  Because of this war, the United States can prevent Europe and Russia from approaching and force Western countries to unite; it can cut off the "North Stream No. 2", allowing Europe to buy American oil and gas, benefiting the United States; it can make the European investment environment worse, Let the capital leave Europe and go to the United States to support the stock market; the US military-industrial complex can make money.

  "The only downside is that high oil prices can benefit Russia, but the United States has also calculated this point, and can minimize Russia's benefits through sanctions from Western countries such as the United States, Europe, Britain, Japan, Canada, and Australia. But the world has become heavier after this. Back to the two camps, the Cold War has become a high probability event."

  Qiao Liang told Chinanews that this war has achieved "one chicken eats more".

On the one hand, Putin got what he wanted-oil prices, continued to restore the territory of Great Russia, domestic support; on the other hand, it helped Biden achieve the goal that the United States wanted to achieve at the "Democratic Conference" last year-to make Western countries Reunited with other quasi-democratic countries and regions.

  He emphasized that one of Putin's goals is that if Ukraine cannot "return" fully, at least it must be neutralized.

At the same time, he also said that the world is entering an era of "whoever has the power will break the rules", but no one has yet been able to establish new rules.

(over)