Russia will not be able to destroy the Ukrainian army and will eventually have to consider Kyiv’s position.

Axar.az reports that this statement was made by former Donbas separatist leader Igor Strelkov, who is currently imprisoned.

He noted that the possibility of an end to the fighting in Ukraine remains uncertain:

"Trump’s optimism is natural. The U.S. has achieved a significant foreign policy success, at least by monopolizing the role of mediator. This is no small achievement in diplomacy. The last time the U.S. mediated between Russia and its rivals was 120 years ago, at the end of the Russo-Japanese War, which concluded with the Portsmouth Treaty in the U.S. We do not know what conditions the U.S. has set for Russia, but I assume they are not favorable for us, which is why they remain undisclosed. I also disagree with the idea that Trump will hand Ukraine over to us in exchange for an alliance against China. I am certain that Trump will not give us anything at all. Instead, he will take a lot and promise to forgive everything. However, he will not obstruct NATO allies and will continue to support Ukraine as a tool to pressure Moscow into accepting the concessions he desires. Some may believe that Ukraine is not a subject in these negotiations.

Yes, that is true, but no one can strip Ukraine of its status as Russia’s military adversary. Over the past three years, Ukraine has not only survived but has also managed to resist Russia on an equal footing. Therefore, it is too early to write Ukraine off. Whether Washington and Moscow like it or not, they will have to take this into account. The situation can still change, but for that to happen, the Ukrainian army must suffer major defeats. However, I understand that such an objective is not currently on Moscow’s agenda. This weakens our position in negotiations. Nonetheless, I do not foresee the war ending in the coming weeks or months. Meanwhile, the systemic crisis within our country has no future and will only deepen further."

Notably, Strelkov is wanted by Ukraine. Moscow used him as a key figure in establishing and developing separatist movements in Ukraine and in initiating the war against Kyiv in 2014. In Russia, he was arrested along with other nationalist figures following Prigozhin’s mutiny. The exact reason for his arrest remains unknown, but some experts view it as part of internal conflicts within the Russian elite.