The majority of Russians do not want to finance the annexed peninsula Crimea, and they are also less likely to support the occupation of Donbass by pro-Russian militants, and Russian leader Vladimir Putin is well aware of this.

So Russian political scientist Lilia Shevtsova spoke in an interview with "Glavkomu".

The political scientist noted that initially Putin did not expect that the countries of the West would take tough measures against Russia because of the annexation of the Crimea, and was not ready for it.

"Indeed, in the next few years the Russian economy, the Russian authorities will retain the potential and resources to exist in conditions of sanctions, even with their escalating. And while Putin remains in the Kremlin, I do not think that he will be ready to leave the Donbass losing his face. The Donbass for him is a burden, the conflict with Ukraine is a burden, "Shevtsova stressed..

According to her, it will be difficult for the follower of Putin to solve the Crimean question, since, although the population supports annexation, it does not want to pay for it at all.

"About 55% of them to the question" Do you want Crimea to be paid from the budget? "answered in the negative.

And as for the Donbass, Russians stop supporting the Russian occupation of this region. And Putin understands this perfectly. But he linked himself with the Donbas so much that he can not leave, giving up his position, "the political scientist clarified..

According to her forecast, the Russian leader will continue to insist on his own interpretation of the Minsk agreements and propose his own version of the introduction of UN peacekeepers in the Donbass, according to which their mandate will only apply to the protection of OSCE observers.