Opposition takeover in Kiev, Nazi oriented - commentator

Press TV has conducted an interview with Christopher Walker, political commentator, London about escalating violence in Ukraine.

- The opposition in Ukraine has formed a new government. The first question that comes to mind is how legal and legitimate is this government?

- It’s hard to say because it overthrew basically a president who still claims that he is president.

- Yes, but the basis of this question is the fact that the opposition broke a peace deal, which it signed with President Yanukovych.

- Absolutely it blatantly broke the peace deal and then forced him to flee basically under pressure.

And now we’re left with a position that this new government in Kiev has not really got legitimacy, but on the other hand it does seem to have control in that part of the country.

But the country itself seems closer than ever to splitting between those influenced by Russia or loyal to Russia and those who look westward, but frankly have not received a great deal of support from America or the European Union, beyond words. They haven’t even received a large amount of cash.

- The fact that there is military escalation in Ukraine especially on the eastern side near Russia, how likely will there be a military confrontation in Ukraine between Russia and the West?

- I don’t think it’s very likely at all, I don’t think the West’s heart is in it. In a way that’s why President Obama has so far as not replied with any sorts of threats of military action. I don’t expect it to go beyond sanctions and possibly a refusal to attend the G8 meeting in Sochi next month.

It’s very hard to see the American public sanctioning any sort of military action when it’s just relieved of pulling out of Iraq and Afghanistan and all side have refused to go into Syria.

- What is the likelihood of Ukraine being divided?

- It does seem very likely because as you’ve reported, this progress is very, very rapid.

But now we have actual demonstrations on the streets in favor of the Russians and it’s the people power working opposite that people power in Kiev, which is being dismissed in the east as really very Nazi-oriented and not at all something that’s going to gather national support.

- If Ukraine does become divided does that mean we’ll have two separate governments?

- It is feasible. But you would... certainly Crimea is almost already gone. The Peninsula has virtually no connections as we speak tied with the Kiev government at all. And you could well see the old divisions come up.

It’s very hard to see the opposite. How are we going to put two sides together again when every hour virtually they grow further apart?