The Russia-Ukraine conflict will go on for a long time, warns Russian expe

Moscow: The conflict between Russia and Ukraine will go on for a long time, and the conflict could lead to the separation of the economies of Russia and the West from each other (decoupling), warned Fyodor Lukyanov, a senior Russian expert.

“When launching a military campaign in Ukraine, Russia and the West were under the illusion that the operation would end soon. But now there is a situation where the campaign’s decision will be made at the military level,” Lukyanov said.

Fyodor Lukyanov is the Research Director of the Valdai Discussion Club, a Russian study group, and a member of the board of directors of the Russian International Affairs Council. Lukyanov, who is working as a host on the news channel Russia 24, recently gave an interview to RT in which he explained his position on the Ukraine conflict.

“Both Russia and Ukraine are currently thinking from a military mindset. The leadership of both countries emphasises that if the conflict stops now, there will be an opportunity for the other side to regroup and prepare for further counter-attacks. Therefore, there is no possibility of a solution at the political or diplomatic level. There are indications right now that the conflict will continue for a long time”, Lukyanov warned.

Russia has other objectives besides attacking Ukraine and capturing the Donbas region, and Russia will not stop until they are accomplished. At the same time, Lukyanov warned that Russia would never give Ukraine the parts they gained control of in the Ukraine conflict.

Lukyanov also hinted that sanctions imposed on Russia by the West are unlikely to be lifted soon and that Russia and the Western economies will likely be separated from each other in the future.