Mikhail Kasyanov, Putin’s first prime minister who led the Russian government between 2000 and 2004, warns that Vladimir Putin wants everything that the West allows him to take.
He took 30% of Georgia’s territory, annexed Crimea, occupied Donbas, and now wants to bring all of Ukraine under his rule, says Kasyanov.
According to him, in order to win this war, Putin will go further, and Moldova could fall in three days.
"To win this war, Putin will, of course, go beyond Kherson, towards Odesa, and then towards Transnistria. And then, if nothing happens, Moldova will be taken in a week, in three days. That would bring him closer. He would already be at your borders. Therefore, it is important for Romanians to understand that they are a very important country, a strong member of the European Union and NATO.
So, in order to defend and deter Putin's aggression, I believe this aspect is very important, and there is a national security issue for Romania. It is absolutely true. And I think achieving the results of these elections was important, and I congratulate you for finally holding these elections and choosing a president, and the Romanian people have reaffirmed that they understand it is very important to defend and support Ukraine," said Mikhail Kasyanov in an interview with Antena3.
The former Russian prime minister further states that all discussions about both sides being responsible for this war must be stopped.
"It is not at all like that. That is why we should understand that we need to defend Ukraine, that helping Ukraine defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty is a crucial matter. After World War II, a world order was established. And, of course, this is enshrined in all international documents. Changing borders by force is impossible. It is forbidden. Putin has violated this international law. Not Russia, but Putin's Russia," Kasianov pointed out.
The KGB Agent Continued to Be a KGB Agent
Asked why Putin has the habit of invading other countries and taking small territories from Ukraine, Georgia, or Moldova, when Russia is the largest country in the world, Kasyanov said it was how he was educated by the KGB.
"The answer to this question is related, I would say, to the idea of understanding who Mr. Putin is. We all come from the Soviet Union. I worked in that period for the Ministry of Economy, I was the Minister of Economy, Putin worked for the KGB, the law enforcement agency, the secret services.
And although he claimed to be devoted to democratic values, like all of us, he turned out to be different. The KGB agent continued to be a KGB agent because that's how he was educated and trained, and he puts into practice what he learned at the KGB school. That is why he dreams of restoring Soviet influence and sphere of interest. That is why he makes these invasions," emphasized the former Russian prime minister.
Kasyanov has become a critic of the Kremlin leader. In June 2022, he stated that he no longer recognizes Vladimir Putin with whom he worked and expressed hope that Russia will one day return to a "democratic path." Before the invasion of Ukraine, Mikhail Kasyanov led the People's Freedom Party (PARNAS), a small liberal party. He announced in June 2022 that he had left Russia.