Political scientist Valery Solovey: "We will find ourselves in international isolation"

Political scientist Valeriy Solovey has long predicted the start of Russia's war in Ukraine. Russia is facing isolation and dire economic and political consequences:

- What will happen to Russia?

- Unfortunately, it is unlikely to be something good. This is due to the international isolation in which we will undoubtedly find ourselves, with the consequences of sanctions. They will not affect all at once in the coming days. Now we will see a panic in the markets, an increase in the exchange rate. But the sanctions that will be introduced against us, according to the Kremlin, will be very sensitive in the medium term, that is, after six to eight months. It is clear that inflation will run rampant. As for the domestic political consequences, much will depend on the dynamics of the military operation itself. If this operation drags on, leads to casualties and is accompanied by the mobilization of conscripts and reservists, you understand what the public reaction will be. Now society is just dumbfounded and quiet.

- How can one explain the fact that the president's address spoke about a special operation in the Donbass, now we see that Russian troops are shelling Odessa, Kharkov, Kiev, Nikolaev - all of Ukraine...

- We are not talking about any Donbass, we are talking about taking control of what to say there, capturing Ukrainian cities and creating a puppet government in Ukraine. Including, it is possible that led by Yanukovych. I am not kidding.

- Are you talking about complete occupation?

- I talked about this many times. There is such a scenario that Ukraine will be cut off from the coast of the Black and Azov Seas, a new government will be formed, which will sign peace and friendship treaties with Russia. Eternal friendship and eternal peace. And Russian military bases and military garrisons will be placed in a number of Ukrainian cities. In such cases, when large-scale operations are planned, there are lists of people who are subject to internment, neutralization, in such cases some kind of euphemism is used. So far, there are no signs of resistance from the Ukrainian army. As for whether it will be possible to occupy the whole of Ukraine, it will largely depend not only and not so much on the Ukrainian army, but on the Ukrainian society itself. Russia's military advantage is undeniable. It was clear from the beginning.

- Today Putin actually threatened with nuclear weapons. Is this scenario likely?

- This option was originally included in the scenario - the possibility of using tactical nuclear weapons if someone tries to interfere with the Russian Federation...