Russia is expecting a longer war against Ukraine due to US weapon deliveries to the country, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
The US-announced delivery of anti-aircraft systems will make the conflict longer and more painful for the Ukrainian side, Peskov told Interfax news agency.
“The confrontation will continue,” Peskov said, referring to a meeting of the Group of Seven leading industrial nations (G7) with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky scheduled for Tuesday.
Russia sees the USA in particular as a warring party in Ukraine because the country not only supplies weapons but also intelligence and satellite data. In addition, Ukrainian soldiers are trained in the West with, among other things, NATO weapons.
The German government and other NATO members emphasize that they are not a warring party. The help for Ukraine is seen as support for the country’s right to self-defence as it strives for membership of the EU and NATO. Russian President Vladimir Putin began his attack on Ukraine on 24 February. At first, the aggressor was militarily superior. After the weapon deliveries, Ukraine was able to push back the Russian troops massively and liberate occupied areas.
Background
The war in the Ukraine is a result of the ongoing conflict between the Ukrainian government and pro-Russian separatists. The conflict began in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea, and has continued despite multiple ceasefires. The best way to end the war would be for the Ukrainian government and the pro-Russian separatists to reach a political agreement.
One possible solution would be for the Ukrainian government to offer autonomy to the pro-Russian separatists in exchange for peace. This would allow the separatists to have a certain degree of self-governance while still remaining part of the Ukrainian state.
Another possible solution would be for the Ukrainian government and the pro-Russian separatists to agree to hold a referendum on the status of the separatist-controlled areas. This would give the people who live in those areas a chance to decide whether they want to remain part of Ukraine or become part of Russia.
Whatever solution is ultimately chosen, it is important that the Ukrainian government and the pro-Russian separatists reach a political agreement in order to end the war.
