Ukraine Ticker. US general: F-16 jets are not a “miracle weapon” +++ Kiev and Moscow report explosions

2023-05-26 11:39:50

According to its own statements, Russia would only be ready for a lasting peace in Ukraine once it had annexed most of the attacked neighboring country. On Thursday, the Deputy Head of the Russian Security Council, ex-President Dmitry Medvedev, outlined three possible scenarios for the outcome of the war. In his preferred variant, western regions of Ukraine would be ceded to several EU countries and eastern regions to Russia, while residents of the central areas voted to join Russia.

Split up Ukraine? Russia declares ideal solution

Moscow, May 26, 2023: According to its own statements, Russia would only be ready for a lasting peace in Ukraine once it had annexed most of the attacked neighboring country. The Deputy Head of the Russian Security Council, ex-President Dmitry Medvedev, outlines three possible scenarios for the outcome of the war. In his preferred variant, western regions of Ukraine would be ceded to several EU countries and eastern regions to Russia, while residents of the central areas voted to join Russia. If, on the other hand, a part of Ukraine that has remained independent joins the EU or NATO, hostilities can be expected to flare up again, “with the risk that it could quickly turn into a full-fledged third world war,” says a confidante of Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin. In a scenario that is “temporarily” acceptable for Moscow, according to Medvedev, Ukraine would be completely divided between EU countries and Russia in the course of the war, while a Ukrainian government-in-exile would be formed in Europe. Variants other than these three are not realistic.

26.05.2023

With this outcome, “the conflict will end with sufficient guarantees that it will not resume in the long term,” Medvedev wrote in the online service Telegram. If, on the other hand, a part of Ukraine that has remained independent joins the EU or NATO, hostilities can be expected to flare up again, “with the risk that it can quickly turn into a full-fledged third world war,” said a confidante of Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin.

In a scenario that is “temporarily” acceptable for Moscow, according to Medvedev, Ukraine would be completely divided between EU countries and Russia in the course of the war, while a Ukrainian government-in-exile would be formed in Europe. Other variants than these three are not realistic, “that’s clear to everyone,” Medvedev claimed – even if some in the West are “uncomfortable” to admit this. He described Ukraine as a “dying state” that would collapse as a result of a lost military conflict.

Russia has been waging a destructive war of aggression in Ukraine for more than 15 months. According to Western estimates, the Russian troops suffered high losses and were only able to bring regions in the east and south of the country under their control. Western-backed Ukraine wants to fight until Russian troops are driven out of the occupied territories. According to the Ukrainian account, the long-awaited counter-offensive has already begun.

“Heroes are immortal” reads this tombstone in the colors and shape of the Ukrainian state in a Lviv cemetery. (icon picture)

IMAGO/ZUMA Wire