Two years after Russia full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin continues his relentless pursuit of power, showing no signs of backing down. Despite international pressure and failed diplomatic efforts, the Russian president has outright rejected a temporary peace deal proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
But according to one of his former advisors, there is a single, undeniable way to halt Putin ambitions once and for all.
Andrei Illarionov, who served as Putin economic advisor from 2000 to 2005, insists that only one force can bring the Russian leader to his knees resistance.
“He knows what he wants and is trying to implement policy to achieve his goals,” Illarionov previously told Newsmax TV. “The only thing that can really stop Putin in Ukraine and in Europe is resistance. Resistance that is being produced by the Ukrainian military, while all Ukrainian people are heroically resisting these aggressions.”
Despite Putin’s reputation for being ‘calculated,’ ‘persistent,’ and ‘concentrated,’ Illarionov maintains that he is not invincible. The Ukrainian militaries’ continued defiance has already led to staggering losses for Russia, with over 100,000 of Putin’s troops reportedly killed in the ongoing conflict.
This dire reality brings renewed focus to ongoing ceasefire negotiations. While Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergei Ryabkov, admitted that the Kremlin has considered Trump’s proposed peace terms, he made it clear that they remain unsatisfied.
Speaking with International Affairs magazine, Ryabkov stated, “We have not heard from Trump a signal to Kyiv to end the war. All that we have today is an attempt to find a certain scheme that would first allow us to achieve a ceasefire, as it is conceived by the Americans.”
But there’s a catch; Putin won’t settle for any agreement that doesn’t address what the Kremlin sees as the “root causes” of the war. Ryabkov emphasized that Moscow has its own “deeply and carefully thought-out” demands, which were a focal point in recent negotiations with U.S. officials in Riyadh.
Yet, one glaring issue remains; Putin ultimate ambition to control Ukraine. And with Ukraine refusing to surrender its sovereignty, the conflict appears far from over.
If Illarionov claim holds true, only unwavering resistance will stand between Putin and his territorial aspirations.
