S-400 system giving Russia upper hand in Crimea: Commentator

Press TV has interviewed Gordon Duff, a senior editor with the Veterans Today from Ohio, about the deployment of Russia’s advanced S-400 air defense missile system to Crimea as a dispute deepens between Moscow and Kiev over the security situation in the Black Sea peninsula.

The following is the rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: Do you believe that tensions will rise to the point that diplomatic ties between Moscow and Kiev may get abandoned over this new activity in Crimea?

Duff: I think we have to tie the events there to the particularly this last incursion by the Ukrainian commandos that crossed into Crimea. Two Russians were killed. This was done to coincide with Erdogan’s visit to Moscow and their joint move what we hope will be a joint move in Syria. We have yet to see what coming out of that deal, but that leaves Ukraine pretty much on its own.

And Ukraine we believe is trying to institute any kind of conflict possible trying to draw the United States and because if Turkey moves with Russia, the US is going to have to follow this lead with Syria if they do that this pairing is going to leave Ukraine entirely on their own. And this is a last-ditch effort, I believe on behalf of Ukraine to bring about an armed conflict and bring the United States in at a time we think the United States is not prepared to handle anything like this.

Press TV: What do you think it'll take to try to defuse the situation between Russia and Ukraine?

Duff: Well, the Russians moving in S-400 system essentially means that any use by Ukraine's air force against Crimea will be will be stopped easily. It also gives full supervision over that entire region by Russia that S-400 is strategically emplaced not just to operate a missile system but to manage surveillance as well.

The US is operating a similar type of radar system out of Constanta in Romania and it moved there some time ago but watching that region and making sure that whoever is that fault or an incident to happen and Russia is predicting an incident that S-400 is going to make sure that Russia is going to be on the winning side.

Press TV: What do you think it'll take to try to defuse the situation between Russia and Ukraine?

Duff: Well, the Russians moving in S-400 system essentially means that any use by Ukraine's air force against Crimea will be will be stopped easily. It also gives full supervision over that entire region by Russia that S-400 is strategically emplaced not just to operate a missile system but to manage surveillance as well.

The US is operating a similar type of radar system out of Constanta in Romania and it moved there some time ago but watching that region and making sure that whoever is that fault or an incident to happen and Russia is predicting an incident that S-400 is going to make sure that Russia is going to be on the winning side.

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