l10 Dec, 2024 10:45
Russia close to winning Ukraine conflict – spy chief
Moscow holds the strategic initiative, while Kiev is on the back foot, Sergey Naryshkin has said
Kiev’s military is now close to complete collapse, the head of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), Sergey Naryshkin has said, adding that thecurrent Ukrainian government has completely lost its legitimacy and is unfit for talks.
In an interview with the Russian magazine Razvedchik (“Spy”) released on Tuesday, Naryshkin reiterated that theUkraine conflict is essentially not a battle against Kiev but rather a struggle against the collective West, and that Russia’s freedom and sovereignty is at stake.
The intel chief expressed optimism about Russia’s progress on the battlefield. “The frontline situation is not in Kiev’s favor.The strategic initiative in all areas belongs to us, we are close to achieving our goals, while the Ukrainian army is on the verge of collapse.”
According to Naryshkin, the regime of Vladimir Zelensky has completely lost its legitimacy and, as a result, its ability to be negotiated with.” The Ukrainian leader’s presidential term expired this past May, after he refused to hold a new election, citing the ongoing martial law.
Russian forces have been making steady progress in recent weeks. Ukrainian commanders, meanwhile, have been complaining about a lack of manpower and exhaustion in their ranks, despite the draft age having been lowered from 27 to 25 and mobilization rules tightened this past spring.
Moscow has said that its main goals in the conflict are Ukraine’s neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification.It has also signaled that it is ready to declare an immediate ceasefire and begin peace talks as soon as Ukraine withdraws from all Russian territories, including Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye Regions.
https://www.rt.com/russia/609122-russia-close-win-ukraine-conflict/
(I don't think Russia would announce if not true. They have never given such a definitive statement on the progress of the war. They are right, Zelensky has no power to be involved in negotiations to end the war. He is not the President, he's a dictator that stole the position.He is block to the end of the war, demanding more money and arms and even being allowed into NATO. Kiev have lost the war and they want a prize for their loss. Less than 16% of the citizens support him, so 84% of them want Zelensky out.)