How will Russia handle the diplomatic expulsions?

World
Europe

By CGTN's World Insight

The US, the EU and other allied countries sent home dozens of Russian diplomats, signaling the worsening of relations between Russia and the West. A host of nations are standing in solidarity with the UK, following the poisoning of an ex-Russian spy on British soil.

How will Russia handle the diplomatic expulsions? In recent announcements, 122 Russian diplomats from Australia, Canada, the US and numerous European countries have been expelled and sent back home.

CGTN's World Insight invites a group of political analysts to discuss the issue.

Mike Bastin, a professor at the University of Southampton in the UK. /CGTN Photo

“Nobody wants an escalation or some sort of Trade War or Cold War," said Mike Bastin, a professor at Southampton University in the UK. He believes in the next few days, Russia will be very quiet, and they will take stock. He said: "I think quite basically they will eat humble pie."

Could there be another Cold War?

A political analyst Dmitry Babich from the Sputnik International News Agency in Moscow, denied professor Bastin's view, saying that "nothing like that will happen.”

Dmitry Bachich, a political analyst, comments the Russian Diplomat Expulsions on CGTN's World Insight. /CGTN Photo

Babich added that Putin has only made more popular because of this UK pressure. “If the idea of authors of this provocation in London is to make Putin look bad in the eyes of the population, they achieve the opposite outcome. That's why 76 percent of the voters voted for Putin at the last election. This is better than his previous result," he said.

"All politics are local - and in local politics - Putin is winning. Don't expect humble pie from him, but a real response.”

World Insight with Tian Wei is a 45-minute global affairs and debate show on CGTN. It airs weekdays at 10:15 p.m. BJT (1415GMT), with rebroadcasts at 4:15 a.m. BJT (2015GMT).