Gorbachev called Putin the right decision about the accession of the Crimea – RBC

Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev

Photos by Sergei Bobylev / TASS

The last Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev said he believes Putin right decision on joining the Crimea to Russia. According to him, in a similar situation, he would have acted the same way

Joining the Crimea and Sevastopol to Russia in March 2014 is the right solution. Such an opinion in an interview with The Sunday Times stated the first and last president of the USSR Mikhail Gorbachev.

According to Gorbachev, he would have done exactly the same way as Russian President Vladimir Putin, if he were in a similar situation. “I’m always for the free will of the people, and the majority in the Crimea would like to reunite with Russia”, -. Gorbachev said

ST journalist in a conversation with a politician doubted that a politician would have gone to such a move, recalling that Gorbachev promoted the fall of the Berlin wall. “The only real reason that I would not do it if I was still in power, the Soviet Union existed and the Crimea would be a part of it”, – said the first president of the Soviet Union

In the course. interview, Gorbachev said that the US rejoiced at the collapse of the Soviet Union. “Under the table, Americans are rubbing their hands with glee,” – he said. According to Gorbachev, he regretted the fact that “a great country with great potential and resources disappear.” “The majority of Russians think like me: they did not want to return it, but deeply regret that it was destroyed,” – concluded the ex-Soviet President

Speaking to The Sunday Times politician also spoke about the current relations. Vladimir Putin, who earlier, as the newspaper notes, it is criticized for being too long stay in power. “I recently saw Putin at the event. We have always had good relations. Now I would not describe them as normal – we just do not have them “, – said Gorbachev

Earlier, Gorbachev has repeatedly advocated the annexation of the Crimea.. “I said, I approve [of Crimea's accession to Russia], because people Crimeans, expressed almost unanimously in favor. And vote. I did not expect even that has been so ripe “, – said the politician. He also expressed the opinion that the West had already resigned to the fact that the Crimea became part of Russia.