Putin's Aide Warns Ukraine Could Cease to Exist by 2025, Calls for Direct Russia-US Talks Excluding Other Western Countries

Jan 14, 2025, 12:47 PM

Nikolai Patrushev, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, has stated that negotiations on Ukraine should be conducted exclusively between Russia and the United States, without the participation of other Western countries. Patrushev emphasized that Moscow has nothing to discuss with London or Brussels regarding Ukraine. Additionally, he warned that Ukraine could 'cease to exist' as a country by 2025, a statement made during an interview with the Russian state-backed outlet Komsomolskaya Pravda. Patrushev described the Ukrainian people as 'close, brotherly, and bound to Russia by centuries-old ties.' He also mentioned that any future discussions on Ukraine should consider the stance of US President-elect Donald Trump, who has confirmed plans for a potential meeting with Putin to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.