Moscow, Kiev should work to restore peace

Editor's note: The skirmish between Russia and Ukraine near Kerch Strait has further escalated tensions between the two sides. Russia seized three Ukranian ships near the Kerch Strait that separates the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov on Sunday, saying they had entered Russian waters ignoring warnings, while Ukraine warned the incident could lead to a full-scale war. Why has the Russia-Ukraine conflict intensified? And how will the incident play out? Two experts share their views on the issue with China Daily's Liu Jianna. Excerpts follow:

A full-blown war highly unlikely

According to Russia, the fact that the captured Ukrainian sailors have admitted on a Russian TV program that they provoked the skirmish shows Kiev is worried about Moscow's recent diplomatic gains and fears it could be marginalized on the global diplomatic stage. Russia's recent diplomatic gains - thawing of relations with Europe, engagement with the United States, and proactive participation in several multilateral summits including the recent APEC meeting - might have prompted Ukraine to think that unless it makes some noise, the international community would forget the Crimea issue.