Russia says it is close to achieving its goals in Ukraine

Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Director Sergei Naryshkin said Moscow was close to achieving its goals in Ukraine and Kyiv's army was on the brink of collapse.

"The situation on the front line is not in Kyiv's favor. The strategic initiative in all areas belongs to us. We are close to achieving our goals while the Ukrainian armed forces are on the verge of collapse," Director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Sergei Naryshkin told the SVR's Razvedchik news magazine on December 10, according to TASS.

Pro-Russian forces in Donetsk in May 2022

According to Mr. Naryshkin, for Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has lost his legitimacy and negotiating ability. Besides, he believes that all efforts to destabilize Russia have failed.

“People understand that we are fighting not only against the Kyiv military authorities but also against the entire Western bloc, and that our freedom and sovereignty are at stake in this confrontation,” Naryshkin said.

Zelensky says Ukraine is ready for diplomatic solution with Russia

The intelligence chief said further escalation would not exhaust Russia's resources but would only bring the West closer to defeat.

According to Reuters, Mr. Naryshkin is one of the few senior Russian officials who communicates relatively regularly with US and Western officials. Mr. Naryshkin's views may partly reflect the views of the Kremlin leadership.

Mr. Sergei Naryshkin, Director of SVR

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he is ready to discuss a ceasefire with Ukraine with US President-elect Donald Trump but has ruled out territorial concessions, while demanding Kyiv abandon its ambitions to join NATO, according to Reuters. Putin also made it a condition for reaching a peace deal that Russia take full control of four Ukrainian regions that Moscow unilaterally annexed in 2022.

President Zelensky on December 9 mentioned the possibility of ending the conflict through diplomacy but also mentioned the idea of sending foreign troops to Ukraine until the country joins NATO.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nga-noi-sap-dat-muc-tieu-tai-ukraine-185241210161655247.htm