Russia’s pivot to the East became the only viable option after the start of the special military operation due to #sanctions and the severing of ties with the West , #Russian Presidential Adviser and Executive Secretary of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) Organizing Committee Anton Kobyakov told TASS in an interview ahead of the forum. “With the start of the special military operation, the ‘pivot to the East’ became the only viable option due to sanctions and the severing of ties with the West.