Kremlin prepares Russians for 10-year war with complete destruction of Ukraine - ISW
Russian President Vladimir Putin (photo: Getty Images)
Russian state media published comments by Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, in a particular interpretation supporting the Kremlin's efforts to prepare Russians for a prolonged war in Ukraine. The goal, as stated, is allegedly to achieve the destruction of Ukrainian statehood within 10 years, reports the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
In an interview with the Russian publication Argumenty i Fakty on July 17, Dmitry Medvedev stated that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg's suggestion that Ukraine could join the alliance within the next ten years was not for nothing. Medvedev claimed that Ukraine will never join NATO, citing potential changes in NATO leadership by 2034 and the possibility that the notorious country 404 may also cease to exist.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) noted that Medvedev did not explicitly state that Ukraine would cease to exist by 2034, but Russian media, including the Kremlin's TASS news agency, quickly published articles with headlines such as Medvedev admitted that Ukraine will not exist in 2034 and Medvedev predicted the disappearance of Ukraine by 2034.
Experts believe this interpretation aims to shape public expectations in Russia that the country can win the war and achieve its goal of destroying Ukrainian statehood within ten years.
This Kremlin narrative directly undermines attempts by some Kremlin officials to suggest that Russia is willing to negotiate for peace with Ukraine. It further emphasizes that the only acceptable end to the war for the Kremlin is the destruction of the Ukrainian state and people, the ISW noted.
"Neither Ukraine nor the West can expect to negotiate with Russia on Russia's terms if Russia's terms are premised on the eradication of Ukraine and its people in the next ten years," the Institute stated.
Earlier, the ISW noted that the Kremlin's harsh and uncompromising conditions for peace negotiations are tantamount to Ukraine's capitulation and indicate President Vladimir Putin's lack of interest in honest negotiations on any terms other than Russian ones.
Previously, Putin stated that the condition for ceasing fire against Ukraine is Kyiv's renunciation of four Ukrainian regions and NATO membership.
