Nikolay Starikov, a popular author and speaker in Russia, explains Russia's policy in the Ukrainian crisis in an interview with an English-language resource 'Russia Insider'. He suggests that Ukraine will attack Russia at the behest of the US if they are successful in subduing the rebellious East, so Russia has no choice but to support the rebels. Starikov also draws attention to the intellectual level of discourse in Russian politics, which is head and shoulders above what it is in the US.