As the war in Ukraine drags on, one former Russian leader believes the world’s opinion of Russia could shift dramatically — but not until after the fighting ends.
Sergey Stepashin, a former Prime Minister of Russia, recently shared his thoughts on the broader geopolitical picture.
And according to him, the West isn’t really standing up for Ukraine — it’s just using the war as cover to try to take Russia down a peg without getting its own hands dirty.
“They’re Not Fighting for Ukraine,” Says Stepashin
Speaking bluntly, Stepashin claimed that Western powers are taking advantage of the Ukraine war to weaken Russia — just like they did with the Soviet Union decades ago.
“They’re not fighting for Ukraine,” he said. “They’re trying to break Russia while hiding behind this conflict.
And yes, we helped them do that with the USSR, sadly.”
He believes that once the war is officially over — whenever that might be — there will be a major shift in how other countries view Russia.
But getting there, he admitted, is going to be a complex and messy process.
Russia’s Strength Is “Inconvenient,” Stepashin Argues
Stepashin painted Russia as a nation that’s too independent and too capable for many Western countries to feel comfortable with.
“Russia, with its traditions, infrastructure, and development — it’s inconvenient,” he said.
“So it makes sense that others are trying to contain us.”
His comments seem to echo a broader narrative out of Moscow: that Russia’s sovereignty and global standing are being challenged not because of what it’s done, but because of what it represents.
Kremlin Keeps Door Open for a Settlement
Over at the Kremlin, the official messaging is still that a peace deal is on the table — at least in theory.
When asked if diplomatic efforts have hit a wall, Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov pushed back.
“No, I wouldn’t say that,” he replied, suggesting talks are still quietly ongoing behind the scenes.
Peskov also added a condition: that the fewer weapons Ukraine receives from the West, the closer we get to ending the war.
Putin Doubles Down on Ukraine’s Dependence
President Vladimir Putin has made similar comments, claiming that Ukraine wouldn’t last long without Western money and military support.
In his words, Ukraine’s sovereignty is now “virtually zero.”
He even went as far as predicting the war could wrap up in as little as six to eight weeks — but only if foreign aid stopped flowing into Kyiv.
The Reality Behind Western Weapons Support
Despite dramatic headlines about Western arms shipments, Stepashin and others suggest the actual deliveries are more limited than people think.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump — who is expected to return to the White House in 2025 — has approved plans to send 17 Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine.
But even those, reports suggest, are being rationed carefully due to shortages at home.
So while the political messaging in the West might talk tough, on-the-ground realities may be a bit more restrained.