By Naeem Khan, November 8, 2024
MOSCOW — In a striking statement on Thursday, Russia’s Security Council Secretary, Sergei Shoigu, called on Western nations to either engage in negotiations with Moscow over Ukraine or face the ongoing “destruction” of the Ukrainian population. The remarks come as Russia has made significant military advances in eastern Ukraine, exacerbating tensions over the future of the conflict.
Shoigu’s comments appeared to be aimed at growing uncertainty in Western support for Ukraine, particularly in light of the recent election of Donald Trump as President of the United States. Trump, who has been a vocal critic of U.S. aid to Ukraine, won the November 7 election, leading to concerns over the future direction of U.S. policy toward Kyiv.
“Now that the situation on the battlefield is not in Kyiv’s favor, the West is faced with a choice,” Shoigu said in a speech to the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a military alliance of former Soviet states. “Either continue financing the Ukrainian government and the destruction of the Ukrainian population, or recognize the current realities and start negotiating.”
Shoigu, who previously served as Russia’s defense minister, argued that the “collective West” — a term Moscow uses to refer to NATO and Western allies — is losing its “economic, political, and moral leadership.” He claimed that Western hopes of a decisive Russian defeat have “failed” and that the military situation is shifting in Russia’s favor. Shoigu also expressed confidence that, over time, Western nations would grow weary of supporting Ukraine’s war effort and would eventually push for peace talks.
The Russian official’s remarks come amid a broader strategy by Moscow to break the resolve of Western countries backing Ukraine, both militarily and economically. Over the past several months, Russian forces have made significant territorial gains in eastern Ukraine, especially in regions like Donetsk and Luhansk, while Ukrainian forces have faced mounting casualties and infrastructure damage.
As the conflict enters its second year, international pressure is building on both sides to seek a diplomatic resolution. However, Western leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, have remained firm in their support for Ukraine, providing billions of dollars in military aid and pledging to back Kyiv’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In the U.S., Trump’s election win has raised questions about the future of American support for Ukraine. While he has suggested he would reduce military aid to Kyiv and prioritize peace talks with Moscow, experts remain divided on how the situation will evolve under his administration.
The ongoing war has caused immense humanitarian suffering in Ukraine, with thousands of civilians killed and millions displaced. The U.N. has warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis as Russian forces intensify their offensive in the eastern and southern parts of the country.
With no end in sight, the international community remains on edge, watching closely to see if Shoigu’s call for negotiations will resonate with the West or if Russia’s military strategy will continue to shift the dynamics of the war.
