Khodorkovsky advised the United States not to supply weapons to Ukraine

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has no short-term solution and is part of a fabricated conflict with the West to distract Russians from everyday corruption and incompetence. This was stated on June 17 by Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a speech at the Atlantic Council think tank in Washington.

Mikhail Khodorkovsky told those present at the meeting that the possibility of a real rapprochement with Russia does not exist as long as Russian President Vladimir Putin remains in power. According to him, Putin has built such a system of power, which is completely closed on one person, on himself.

Khodorkovsky said he sees a “post-Putin” Russia as oriented toward the West, but he did not discuss how the current government might fall. The US and the rest of the West must be prepared to welcome Russia into their fold, he said, and that would mean membership in the EU and NATO.

But now, he said, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine - the annexation of the Crimea and the support of pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine - can last as long as the separation of North and South Korea.

“Freezing the conflict is the only reasonable expectation,” Khodorkovsky said.

The United States has no choice but to remain involved in Ukraine, Khodorkovsky said, warning Washington against providing lethal weapons to Kyiv. He said that most Russians already believe there is a conflict between Russia and the United States. “This situation will continue to develop in the direction of conflict if weapons are supplied to Ukraine,” he said.

“The question arises: is the United States ready to enter into a conflict and win, because if the United States is not ready, it will be interpreted as a loss for America,” Khodorkovsky said.

Khodorkovsky was once the richest man in Russia and the head of the Yukos company. He now lives in exile after spending ten years in prison for a sentence his supporters say was fabricated because of the political threat Khodorkovsky posed to Putin.