NEWSWEEK
Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a self-exiled Russian oligarch and a prominent critic of the Kremlin, said in a Thursday interview that Russian President Vladimir Putin will eventually wage war in NATO territory if the coalition doesn’t help Ukraine win in the current conflict.
Khodorkovsky made the warning during an interview with Euronews, a television network headquartered in France. He called on NATO to continue providing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskywith weapons and supplies to fight Russia’s military, which began its invasion in late February.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberghas condemned Putin for his attack of Ukraine, and he reiterated the organization’s support of Ukraine during a Wednesday conversation with Politico. He said NATO has a “political and a moral obligation to provide substantial support” to Zelensky’s country and would continue supplying Ukraine with weapons for “[a]s long as necessary.”
Putin has used possible NATO expansion as one reason to justify his invasion of Ukraine, though Finland and Sweden both applied to join the alliance after the outbreak of the war. He has also warned the organization and the U.S. about becoming directly involved in the war.
Khodorkovsky told Shona Murray of Euronews, “Today, NATO has a great opportunity to help Ukraine defend its sovereignty by participating in this war with weapons, supplies and training Ukrainian soldiers, rather than fighting on its own territories.
“If this opportunity is missed, I issue a warning: In a few years, or perhaps even earlier, NATO will be directly involved in this war, because it will be happening on the territory of a NATO country.”
At one time, Khodorkovsky was the richest man in Russia thanks to a substantial oil fortune, but then he began openly criticizing Putin. He founded the pro-democracy Open Russia organization in 2001, only to be arrested by Russian authorities in 2003 for tax evasion. He was found guilty in 2005 and sentenced to nine years in prison. Embezzlement and money laundering charges were added to his sentence in 2010, which extended his jail time. However, after some high-profile lobbying, Putin pardoned Khodorkovsky and freed him in late 2013.
When Murray asked Khodorkovsky if he feels NATO should become directly involved in Ukraine, he answered that the alliance must do all it can to ensure that Putin doesn’t prevail.
“Those who believe you can somehow reach agreement with an aggressor are repeating the mistakes of their many predecessors,” he said.
Khodorkovsky also said he doesn’t believe the sanctions imposed on Russia have had a large impact. He said that while sanctions “can weaken the regime so this aggression doesn’t get reproduced for some time,” the issues between Russia and Ukraine are “being resolved on the battlefield.”
Khodorkovsky further added that the weapons and supplies that NATO has been sending to Ukraine are insufficient in comparison to the considerable amount of weapons in Putin’s arsenal.
“If NATO wants it to be resolved on the territory of Ukraine, then, of course, it needs to provide much more systematic support,” he said.
“If NATO wants it to be resolved on the territory of Ukraine, then, of course, it needs to provide much more systematic support,” he said.”
Exactly right.
Comment from a reader :
William Barker:
“Putin s actions are earily similar to Hitler’s early actions in the second world war, even to the extent of copying the red herring tactic of invading to supposedly protect Russian speakers. There is the half swastika, masquerading as a capital Z. Putin was a KGB, operative in East Germany when the wall came down. All the indication is that Putin is indulging in revanchism, because he wants to create a greater Russia, ignoring the historical fact that Ukraine existed before Russia was founded. Putin is an ex communist and socialists are famous for tampering with history. Putin’s memory for history will not go before when the communists took power.
Putin has not watched the tv documentaries about how the second world war was won. It comes down to which side has factories that can out produce the other side. Maybe Putin has forgotten the massive usa aid, given to Stalin so that he could defeat the nazis. The USA was named the arsenal of democracy because not only did it arm Stalin s army, but it, armed the western alliance with tanks, ships, everything.
On the other hand , Putin has a military that has been humbled by a ukraine military that everyone thought stood no chance. Over 1200 missiles have largely been fired into ukraine from outside its borders, hardly the actions of a notable military. Over 60% of Russian missiles have been faulty and Russia relied on the west for the chips, to manufacture their poor quality weapons.”
A filthy troll wrote in comments:
M Carafino:
“Khodorkovsky is a liar, his own words are in direct conflict to his statements. Khordorkovsky pleaded for his freedom to Putin by a letter. Claiming that he wanted to live the rest of his days with his family and not in prison, telling Putin he was sorry for trying to challenge Putin to the demise of Russian History. Putin, from the goodness of his heart, gave Khodorkovsky his freedom and ordered him released from prison on the condition Khodorkovsky would stay out of politics. There was no lobbying to set Khodorkovsky free. All of Khodorkovsky lobbying efforts did not prevail. Now, Khodorkovsky dreams to return to Russia to be president of the country. But Khodorkovsky is the one who cannot be trusted. He has been promised many political positions by America. The best thing for Khodorkovsky is to stay quiet. He is on interpol wanted list for murder in Russia. If Khodorkovsky could not keep a gentlemen agreement with the leader of Russia whom set him free from prison, what makes you believe ANYTHING he would say? Khodorkovsky does not even have half the honor as Mark Rich, who did much for his Israel country without opening his mouth for the world to hear. Putin is smarter than all of them combined that try to ruin him. Go Z, death to Zelensky and peace to Ukraine, the brother and sister country of Russia. No Nato Expansion.”
A reply came from :
Putin is Evil
“you lost me at “Putin, from the goodness of his heart”
and you seem to be confusing confessions extracted under duress and heavy prison sentences with reality.
The sad fact is, you are a propaganda artist working for Putin.
Go to the dark place down under and never return, spawn of the nether world.”
The response is on the button.
The sky’s the limit if putler is allowed to win in Ukraine. Anyone that doesn’t comprehend this fact has absolutely no business in politics. This already goes for Macron, Scholz and Draghi, who, in all their ass-giving naïveness, are worse than babes in the woods. The big bad wolf is playing them like the sorry little fiddles that they are.
“…the issues between Russia and Ukraine are “being resolved on the battlefield. Exactly correct. The issues will not be resolved at a negotiating table, but only by the resounding defeat of Putin’s “Army” in the field.