Putin unlikely to retaliate against West's punitive measures over UK spy poisoning: expert

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By CGTN’s The Point

Russia doesn’t want any "hybrid war" with the West, a Russian expert has argued, adding that Moscow is trying to avoid it by not retaliating after a wave of countries and groups expelled Russian diplomats over the poisoning case of a former Russian spy in the UK.

"The Western coalition and the Soviet Union attacked each other during the Cold War period, Russia now is just protecting [itself]," Sergei Markov, member of Public Chamber of Russia and Belorussia, said on CGTN’s The Point (@thepointwithlx).

"Hybrid threats" initiated by the West against Russia include political attacks, attempts at isolation, and economic sanctions, Markov said. "They would see Putin guilty of everything."

More than 20 countries on Monday announced that they were expelling more than 130 Russian diplomats, including 60 kicked out by the US. On Tuesday, NATO and other countries like Australia, Belgium and Ireland joined them.

Russia denounced the actions as "boorish."

Markov noted that some political figures in the West have also dismissed UK’s accusations that Russia is behind the poisoning of ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia as “foolish,” adding that Russia is "ready for hybrid wars."

A police officer stands guard outside of the home of former Russian military intelligence officer Sergei Skripal, in Salisbury, Britain, March 6, 2018. /Reuters Photo

Despite the rising tensions, Markov insisted that President Vladimir Putin will not act "tougher" and fight against the West during his new term in office.

Markov pointed out that Putin's new vision will "give a big part to development in high-tech sectors and economy” as well as the country’s power shift.

Putin earlier branded the UK’s claims as "nonsense", adding that Russia had no motives to make such a move on the eve of the presidential election and with the World Cup in the horizon. The Kremlin said Putin himself will make the final decision on how to respond to the occurrence.

On Tuesday, he traveled to Kemerovo to meet grieving families and focused his public remarks on a tragic fire in a shopping mall in the Siberian city which has claimed dozens of lives.

The Point with Liu Xin is a 30-minute current affairs program on CGTN. It airs weekdays at 9:30 p.m. BJT (1330GMT), with rebroadcasts at 5:30 a.m. (2130GMT) and 10:30 a.m. (0230GMT).