Sergei Shoigu, a key ally of President Putin, stated on Thursday that the West should realize Russia is winning the war in Ukraine and should negotiate to end the conflict.
After 2.5 years, the war is possibly entering its last phase, as Russian forces have recently made significant advances. Donald Trump, who just became the 47th president of the United States, had claimed during his campaign that he could bring peace to Ukraine in just 24 hours, but he hasn’t shared much on how he plans to do that.
Shoigu, who was defense minister until May, said the West has failed in its efforts to defeat Russia using Ukraine, and now faces a choice: either keep funding the war and harming the Ukrainian people or accept the situation and start talks. He referred to the Ukrainian leadership as a “terrorist” group controlled by foreign powers.
The Kremlin took a cautious stance after Trump’s election, stating that the US remains unfriendly and that it’s uncertain if Trump’s peace promises will materialize. Reports indicate that Putin is open to a ceasefire that accepts the current military lines but is willing to continue fighting if there is no response from Kyiv or the West.
While Russia views the invasion as a necessary response to Western aggression, Ukraine, supported by the West, sees it as an imperial invasion. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has outlined a “victory plan” seeking more support to combat Russia’s advances. The conflict began in 2014 after the pro-Russian president in Ukraine was removed, leading to Russia’s annexation of Crimea and ongoing battles in eastern Ukraine.
