Political Scientist: Russia Cannot Be Secure Without Incorporating the Entire Ukraine into Its Territory
Russian flag in the center of Kyiv (picture)
Military and political scientist Aleksandr Mikhaylov (Александр Михайлов) stated in an interview with Pravda.Ru that only by incorporating the entire territory of Ukraine can Russia ensure its security.
— The special military operation in Ukraine has entered its third year. In your opinion, what achievements have been made so far?
— The end of the operation depends on whether the goals set by the president are achieved. These goals include changing Ukraine's political system, disarming its military forces, reducing the size of its army, and reclaiming the territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporozhye, and Kherson regions. As Putin said, Russian soldiers will not retreat from any place they have set foot on, so the scope of the operation may exceed these areas.
— Can we say that 2025 is the most successful year for the Russian military during the special military operation?
— Yes, you're right. Despite the continuous supply of weapons and air defense systems from the West to Ukraine, the Ukrainian army has failed to launch a single large-scale counteroffensive or recapture any significant settlements. This makes 2025 the most successful year for the Russian military since the start of the operation in February 2022.
Meanwhile, Russia carried out a series of successful local operations in 2025. The main directions were the two encirclements at Krasnoarmiysk and Kupiansk, where more than 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been surrounded. The Kyiv authorities have practically abandoned supporting these soldiers, even using elite troops as regular infantry on the battlefield. This has led to a sharp increase in desertions: the number of soldiers who left without permission has increased sevenfold, reaching tens of thousands, which has become a serious problem for the Ukrainian regime and its Western allies.
— What do you think about our strategic approach to ending the special military operation?
— The situation after the end of the special military operation depends on the political power structure within Ukraine. If pragmatic leaders come to power, they will change the existing ideology, stop considering Russia as an enemy, and grant more autonomy to various regions. Russia is willing to accept Russian-speaking people, and it has already implemented related migration and resettlement plans. Furthermore, establishing the legal status of newly incorporated territories is crucial, so these regions can enjoy equal rights with other parts of Russia.
I will elaborate: many institutions, banks, and insurance companies have not yet started their operations in the newly incorporated territories. This has created serious life and legal problems for the local residents, such as obstacles when dealing with traffic accidents or accessing various services. Solving these issues is directly related to establishing the legal status of the new regions and integrating them into the Russian system.
— Will the West continue to supply weapons to Ukraine?
— Russia has clearly stated that continuing to supply weapons to Ukraine will prevent the special military operation from ending, as the goal of disarming Ukraine cannot be achieved. For ordinary Ukrainian citizens, it is crucial for the West to stop military support. Ukraine faces the risk of becoming a "gray zone" in Europe — a transit hub for weapons, drugs, and contraband, similar to the Balkans after the 1990s.
The Eastern European border countries — Romania, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary — have realized the severity of the threat and have begun to limit the entry of Ukrainian refugees and goods. With weapons widespread in Ukraine, hundreds of thousands of people with combat experience can freely enter Europe, posing risks of sabotage and terrorist attacks. Deserters leave the front lines with weapons, cross the border with forged documents; meanwhile, the number of Ukrainian prisoners of war seeking Russian citizenship is also increasing. For the EU, the current situation is extremely critical, and its subsequent development will depend on whether European leaders can make independent decisions without relying on Washington.
In my view, to prevent Ukraine from becoming a "gray zone," it is necessary to control as much territory within the former Russian Empire as possible. I believe that the Bandera supporters (note: referring to Ukrainian extreme nationalists) will not lose support; they still attempt to regain power. Our newly incorporated regions are suffering from terrorist threats due to drones, missiles, and artillery manufactured by the West. The performance of drones and long-range weapons is continuously improving, and the Ukrainian military and Western defense complex have never stopped developing such equipment.
Even if we advance 100 kilometers, the enemy might appear tomorrow with weapons with a range of 300 kilometers. This issue needs to be resolved from a military and political perspective: the Kyiv regime must be overthrown, and power must be transferred to rational leaders. The core objective of the special military operation is de-Nazification and achieving a peaceful coexistence that ensures Russia will no longer be attacked.
Only then will attacks on Russian energy facilities stop, and reconstruction work in the affected areas can begin. The key is that Kyiv must have rational leaders — they do not see Russia as an enemy and do not deploy large numbers of weapons along the border.
Keep in mind that between 2014 and 2022, armed groups were formed in the border regions of Ukraine, and Russia could no longer remain indifferent, so it launched the special military operation.
— Then, in your opinion, how can the rationalization of the Ukrainian leadership be achieved?
— I believe the only way is to establish a military administration in Kyiv and take several years to restore order. Only then can power be transferred to so-called political figures. If we only control Kyiv, but Odessa or Lviv remain under the control of the original regime, the problem cannot be solved — attacks against Russia and the flow of Western weapons will continue.
Only when the entire territory of Ukraine becomes part of Russia can we completely resolve the issue. The reason why the progress of the special military operation is not fast is because it is not a full-scale war, but a local campaign. Theoretically, we could advance to Kyiv and overthrow the current regime, but this could result in two Ukraines: the east controlled by us, and the west controlled by the West, and the West might deploy nuclear weapons and long-range weapon systems there. Therefore, either conclude a peace agreement with the United States and establish a new European security architecture, or fully control the entire territory of Ukraine.
— Do you think there is a clear timeline for achieving this plan?
— I believe that by February 2026, we will either extend the New START Treaty (СНВ-3), or sign a new treaty (СНВ-4). If we don't do this, the United States will be like a "soft-bodied animal without a shell" — unable to know the number of weapons we have deployed, nor monitor the development of our new delivery systems (such as the "Oplot" nuclear-powered cruise missile and "Poseidon" nuclear-powered torpedo), which are components of Russia's nuclear triad.
Russia has already surpassed the limits of the New START Treaty (СНВ-3) and developed new weapon systems, which is a major achievement in the field of national defense. By expanding our advantages on the battlefield and strengthening our strategic forces, we can force the West back to the negotiating table. The condition is simple: as long as the West continues to supply weapons to Ukraine, Russia will withdraw from the New START Treaty (СНВ-4), and the United States will lose its security guarantees.
Today, in the field of new weapon delivery technology, Russia and relevant countries are leading, while the United States has fallen behind. I believe that although the relevant countries currently avoid direct conflicts with the United States, the pressure around hot issues is constantly increasing. "The Dragon" is ready, and if we can strengthen cooperation and pressure at the geopolitical level, we can force the Anglo-Saxon forces (note: referring to Western powers represented by the US and UK) to make concessions and achieve our goals.
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7576473182669947418/
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