On the other hand, according to opposition activist Piontkovsky, the Baltic states are in "no particular danger" of the Russian regime, and Putin's "imperial fantasies" will remain unfulfilled.
"I think Lithuanian politicians should do a lot of explaining to their Western colleagues – as our neighbors, you better understand the origin, dynamics and evolution of the regime. I watched a meeting between (US President) Barack Obama and Putin on TV, and Obama looked like blithering idiot," Piontkovsky said in an interview to the IQ magazine.
"Obama is just afraid to admit existence of problems in relations with Russia, as this would mean total failure of his 'reload' policy," the Russian analyst said.
He gave a skeptical view of the chances of Putin restoring a strong union of post-Soviet countries.
"You are in no particular danger. All of the Putin's imperial fantasies about the Eurasian union, about settlement of all geopolitical catastrophes of the 21st century will remain on paper only and any military gamble against the Baltic states is out of the question. Especially since they are members of NATO," Piontkovsky told the magazine.
Speaking about US aim of maintaining good relations with Russia for cargo transit to Afghanistan, he said Putin was simply deceiving Western politicians.
"They (Americans) are, as a matter of fact, doing the job of the Russians – guarding Russia's southern border from possible attacks of Islamists. And Putin still berates them, demanding enormous money for transit and threatening to terminate it any minute. Putin simply despises Western politicians. He cheats and despises them. And has the right for this," Piontkovsky concluded.
