Medvedev Predicts Imminent Victory in Ukraine, Stresses Need to Avert Future Conflict
MOSCOW, Feb 1 – Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council, has declared that a Russian military victory in Ukraine is imminent. However, the former president cautioned that the paramount goal following any victory must be to forestall new conflicts from emerging.
When pressed by the pro-Kremlin war blogger WarGonzo on the timeline for victory, Medvedev responded succinctly: "Soon." He added, "I would like this to happen as soon as possible." The remarks were part of a wider interview also involving state news agency TASS and Reuters.
Medvedev, who served as Russia's president from 2008 to 2012, framed the conflict's conclusion not merely as a tactical win but as a strategic necessity for regional stability. "But it is equally important to think about what will happen next," he stated. "After all, the goal of victory is to prevent new conflicts. This is absolutely obvious."
Analysis: Medvedev's comments arrive amid a protracted and costly war that has entered its third year with no clear end in sight. His assertion of a looming victory contrasts with assessments from Western intelligence, which describe a largely stalemated frontline. Experts suggest such statements may be aimed at bolstering domestic morale and reinforcing the Kremlin's narrative of inevitable success, even as it signals a desire to manage the post-conflict landscape and avoid a wider confrontation with NATO.
Expert & Public Reaction:
"This is a classic political-military signal," says Dr. Anya Petrova, a senior fellow at the Center for Eastern European Studies. "By coupling a victory prediction with a call for conflict prevention, Moscow is attempting to project both strength and a responsible long-term vision, likely for diplomatic audiences."
Markus Weber, a political analyst based in Berlin, offered a more skeptical take: "The timeline 'soon' is strategically vague. It maintains pressure but commits to nothing. The real focus on preventing 'new conflicts' could be read as a warning to the West against deeper involvement."
A sharper critique came from Olga Ivanova, a journalist from Kyiv now residing abroad: "This is empty propaganda, repeated for over two years. Every 'imminent victory' announcement coincides with another wave of mobilization or a domestic crisis. It's a cruel attempt to normalize an endless war to the Russian people while ignoring the horrific reality on the ground."
Conversely, Alexei Volkov, a retired engineer in Moscow, expressed cautious hope: "One wants to believe this will end. If victory brings real peace and security, not just more tension, then perhaps there is a point to all this sacrifice."
(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Vladimir Soldatkin and news desk)