You're reading: Opposition deputies: Russia policy towards Ukraine to be tougher after Putin’s election

Russia's policy towards Ukraine will not change, but it will be tougher now Vladimir Putin has assumed office as Russian president, according to Ukrainian opposition politicians.

"In fact, the third coming [to office] of Putin will actually bring no special changes for Ukraine, because his position with respect to Ukraine has not changed. But now it will be even tougher and more aggressive with respect to Ukraine," Our Ukraine-People’s Self-Defense faction deputy Andriy Paruniy told Interfax-Ukraine.

"Obviously, there is a peculiar mission for him to restore post-Soviet space in a new format – either in the format of the Eurasian Union, as auxiliary, or in the format of the Customs Union, as the resumption of the Russian world," he said.

"In his new cadence, he will feel much more confident and act more firmly with regard to Ukraine," Parubiy said.

He said conflicts between Ukraine and Russia "have never ceased to exist, but only acquired other forms."

He added that Russia is trying to exert pressure on Ukraine, using various economic sectors to achieve their goals.

Parubiy noted that he had watched the live broadcast of Putin’s inauguration as Russian president.

BYT-Batkivschyna faction member Andriy Shkil also predicted the toughening of Russian policy towards Ukraine.

"I think that nothing new can be expected… Of course, the Eurasian vector will strengthen. This will be reflected in a number of political projects that will be implemented in Ukraine," he said.

The MP said that "there will be no normal relations between the two presidents, because they have some private differences."

"But officially, nominally for photo and video images, there will be handshakes and hugs, but in fact it will be a serious test for Ukraine and for Russia," Shkil said.

In his opinion, one of the main conditions that will be put forward to Ukraine by Russia is joining the Eurasian Union.

"If Yanukovych accepts this, bilateral relations could be at least neutral," Shkil said.