Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federation’s Security Council, stated that the war against Ukraine must end «on Russia’s terms», otherwise, according to him, the conflict could resume and escalate into a global conflict. In an interview with *Vedomosti*, he also spoke of the possibility of using nuclear weapons and the potential for strikes on Kyiv and NATO facilities.
Briefly about the main points
- Medvedev linked the end of the war to Russia’s «victory».
- He did not provide a specific list of Russia’s conditions.
- He stated that the use of nuclear weapons was a possibility under the Russian Federation’s doctrine.
- The official mentioned the possibility of strikes on Kyiv and NATO facilities.
- The UN supports peace whilst respecting Ukraine’s borders and sovereignty.
Moscow is demanding that the war be brought to an end on its own terms
In response to a question about the war possibly ending in 2027, Medvedev said that Moscow was allegedly keen to bring the fighting to an end as quickly as possible. At the same time, he linked this exclusively to Russia’s terms and described the objective as «victory on our terms».
According to him, otherwise the conflict could be «reignited», and Western countries would allegedly continue their attempts to weaken Russia. Medvedev did not explain in this part of the interview exactly what conditions Moscow is demanding for the war to end.
Russia’s position runs counter to the framework endorsed by the UN General Assembly in its resolution of 24 February 2025. The document calls for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in accordance with the UN Charter, Ukraine’s sovereignty and its internationally recognised borders.
Medvedev’s nuclear rhetoric and the «great power» thesis»
When asked about the regular nuclear threats, Medvedev replied that, in his words, these were «not mere hints». He stated that Russia may use nuclear weapons in the cases provided for therein doctrine, and the final decision is taken by the President of the Russian Federation.
Medvedev also spoke of Russia’s capability to launch nuclear strikes against Kyiv and NATO facilities. He described such a scenario as a «point of no return» for the planet.
The current framework for the Russian Federation’s state policy on nuclear deterrence Vladimir Putin Approved on 19 November 2024. The document sets out the conditions under which nuclear weapons might be used, but does not in itself imply that they would automatically be deployed.
Elsewhere in the conversation, Medvedev stated that Russia was allegedly only capable of existing as a «great power». He put it as «either a great power or nothing» and referred to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
This is not the first time that nuclear issues have featured in his public rhetoric during the full-scale war that Russia has been waging against Ukraine since 2022, in the course of which it has occupied part of Ukrainian territory. NATO Deputy Secretary-General Radmila Shekerynska At the end of August, she stated that the Alliance regards the long-standing nuclear threats Russian officials as an attempt to undermine Ukraine’s resilience and international support for Kyiv. This was an assessment of Russia’s general rhetoric, rather than a specific response to Medvedev’s interview.
