Don't negotiate with Putin, he's a bandit, former Russian oligarch warns Europe

Former Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky has warned Europe not to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin for ending the war in Ukraine.

Khodorkovsky, a businessman who already lives in London but who was once considered Russia's richest man, declared in an interview for Euronews that Putin is not a statesman, but a bandit.

The leaders of major European countries still believe they can negotiate something with Putin without demonstrating their strength and that they can talk to him. This is a dramatic mistake because he is not a statesman like them, but only a gangster”, Khodorkovsky said.

Asked how the war would end, the businessman cited the forecast made by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.

He said a few days ago that war cannot be solved not only at the negotiating table but also on the battlefield.

I was surprised by Mr. Borrell, he is a European bureaucratic and did not expect any harsh words from him, but he said some very correct words: this issue will not be resolved at the negotiating table, but on the battlefield. Of course, we will have negotiations at the end of this war, but first of all, this conflict will be resolved on the battlefield”, Khodorkovs said.