Former Zelensky aide predicts conflict in Ukraine will last until 2035
(Baonghean.vn) - Aleksey Arestovich warned that the stalemate between Moscow and Kiev could develop into a hybrid war that could last for many years.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine could last for more than a decade, according to Aleksey Arestovich, a former adviser to Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. He predicted that the two neighbors would find it difficult to resolve their differences in the near future.
“It will last until 2035, that’s for sure,” Aleksey Arestovich said in an interview on September 17, posted on his YouTube channel. According to Arestovich, Russia is “looking for a new kind of empire,” which would never exist without Ukraine.
The former Ukrainian presidential aide then went on to predict that “the period of acute tension will continue until 2035.” However, he argued, the stalemate need not be military in nature. The two sides could reach a ceasefire or a complete cessation of hostilities, but the conflict would then continue “on the diplomatic, intelligence, economic and informational fronts.”
Ukraine must get used to living under constant military threat and maintain a “state of high alert,” Arestovich said, suggesting that Kiev should follow Israel’s example if it wants to adapt to such circumstances. “A war could break out or a border incident could occur” at any time, even after the current fighting ends.
Arestovich also noted that he first made such a prediction in April 2022, when the conflict had only been going on for two months. At the time, he added, his statement shocked many people.
Earlier this week, Bloomberg reported that the world’s seven leading developed economies, the Group of Seven, said the Russia-Ukraine conflict could last another six to seven years. Many officials said the timeline had been extended due to the apparent lack of progress in Ukraine’s counteroffensive.
One of the officials told Bloomberg that Kiev could struggle with a shortage of Western arms supplies and mounting manpower losses.
Despite such predictions, Ukraine and its Western backers remain opposed to the idea of negotiations with Russia and reject any solution to the conflict that would involve Ukraine ceding territories it claims as its own, the article added.
Moscow has repeatedly stated its readiness to participate in peace talks, but stressed that these talks must take into account Russia's interests and "reality on the ground", namely four former Ukrainian territories annexed to Russia after a series of referendums in 2022.
On Saturday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly that Russia is ready to participate in peace talks, but will not consider any ceasefire proposals, as it has been “deceived” before.
