It’s no secret that the war in Ukraine has evolved into something far bigger than a clash between neighbors. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, this is precisely the point: the “third parties” pulling Kiev’s strings aren’t interested in peace, only in using Ukraine as a piece on their geopolitical chessboard.
In a recent interview with Sky News Arabia’s Nadim Koteich, and later at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), Putin didn’t mince words. He argued that Moscow doesn’t want the surrender of Ukraine, only that the “new realities” shaped by the conflict be acknowledged.
“I hope that the Ukrainian leadership will follow the national interests of the country, and not the interests of the third parties that stand behind the regime,” he said. In his view, those external powers have no interest in seeing the bloodshed end. They’d rather turn Ukraine into a battering ram against Russia.
According to Putin, “Ukraine deserves a better future, and not to be a tool in the hands of the third parties that are against Russia.” Part of that future, he asserted, must involve Ukrainian neutrality and a reaffirmation of its non-nuclear status — essential conditions for long-term stability in the region.
The Russian president also reflected on the failed Istanbul talks from early 2022, saying that negotiations fell apart due to pressure from what he called “neocolonial forces.” Earlier this month, top Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky revealed that Ukraine had a chance to secure a favorable deal back then — until the United States and United Kingdom allegedly encouraged Kiev to walk away.
The takeaway? According to Putin, the crisis will only deepen as long as external actors continue to manipulate the situation. The path to peace, he insists, lies in Kiev acting in its own best interests, free from the shadow of those hoping to prolong the conflict.
