Ukraine will not use military to liberate Donbas, Poroshenko says

Ukraine will not
pursue a military solution to liberate Donbas from Russian occupation,
Ukrainian President Poroshenko told an economic forum in Kharkiv on Sept. 29. A
military scenario poses the risk of a full-scale war along Ukraine’s entire
eastern border with Russia, he said, adding that Ukraine needs more years to
strengthen its army. Instead, Ukraine will pursue a political-diplomatic
solution.  Afterwards, MP Ihor Mosiychuk of the Radical Party said such
statements demoralize Ukraine’s Armed Forces, which don’t know how and when
Donbas will be liberated.

Zenon Zawada: We are confident Ukraine will never
resort to a military offensive to liberate Donbas. On the other hand, we
believe Russia could expand its aggression in Ukraine next year, military or
politically, if the elections get chaotic and a consensus isn’t reached on who
are the victors. Presidential elections are scheduled for March-April, while
parliamentary elections are scheduled for late October.