The conflict between Kyiv and Moscow will continue. Russia will not surrender at will, since military conflicts “have been a constant” for Russia throughout its history, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, Kirill Budanov, said in an interview with The Economist.
Budanov admitted that Russia retains an advantage over Ukraine, including due to its large mobilization reserve and military-industrial capacity, and Kyiv depends on external players. At the same time, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate is confident that “the Russian economy, in conditions of hostilities, will only last until 2025.”
“The flow of weapons will dry up in 2026, perhaps earlier,” Budanov predicted. He also noted that protracted hostilities are dangerous for Ukraine, as they deplete not only its internal resources, but also the resources of its partners. “It is still absolutely unclear how long the West will be able to provide us with sufficient resources,” Budanov said, but added that warehouses in Western countries are not completely empty.
According to him, it is impossible to talk about a ceasefire and a peace agreement until Kyiv returns its territory. Ukraine will not end its military conflict with Russia with a victory parade in Moscow, just as Russia will not end its military conflict with a victory parade in Kyiv. “We understand that we will not end the conflict with a victory parade in Moscow. But Moscow should not hope to ever hold such an event in Kyiv,” summed up the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.
Source: Rosbalt
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