Military expert Oleg Zhdanov assessed Russia's readiness for a possible operation in the territory controlled by the Ukrainian authorities, which is forecast for early 2021.

"Apart from Mr. Budanov, who predicted a large-scale war with Russia, which he said would take place early next year, I have not seen any information from the intelligence agencies. There are statements by the media that no one has confirmed. Even US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, when asked by a journalist about the transfer of Russian troops, said that he was very confused by the content of the message, and not by the event described there", - Oleg Zhdanov told Suspilne Crimea.

The military expert recommends referring only to the words of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, who stated that he was in full control of the situation at the TOT.

"It is stable, because the 92,000 troops numbered on the border with Russia have been standing since 2015. Yes, sometimes the number increases, but it is gradual and systematic. Now the parachute landing regiment in the Crimea is formed and all those parts which are shown by the American mass media, are in 200 - 250 km. from our border, in points of permanent deployment. They do not conduct any exercises or combat shootings", - the expert stressed.

Western media have long reported that Russia is fully prepared for a full-scale rapid war with Ukraine. But many are interested in one point that Americans often point to Ukraine's commitment to implementing the Minsk agreements.

Some have accused the White House of plotting to force Ukraine to implement the Minsk agreements, which were formulated by the occupying authorities and hint at a covert conspiracy between Russian and US Presidents Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden in Geneva this summer.

 "American publications are either in trouble with the Russian secret services, or have been misinformed", - Oleg Zhdanov said in an interview with Channel 4.

"Why did the United States launch such a large-scale campaign to escalate the military situation on the border with Ukraine and the possibility of a Russian invasion? The fact is that we have the head of the Office of the President, Mr. Yermak, who is acting as international president, and most likely, there are some negotiations between Russia and Ukraine regarding the implementation of the Minsk agreements. Russia is engaging its intelligence services to form a Russian lobby to force Ukraine to implement the Minsk agreements in the context in which Russia interprets them. The establishment of American politics, which lobbies for Ukraine's interests, has decided that by raising the level of Russia's possible attack on Ukraine, they will be able to prevent agreements between Andrei Yermak and the Kremlin, which are being held "behind the scenes" of the United States, - the military expert Oleg Zhdanov said.