On the Matter of State Interest: The Folly of Inconsistency in the Ukrainian Question

Gentlemen, let us be plain. The stability of our Fatherland and the preservation of our great Power demand a diplomatic approach rooted in prudence and firmness. It has come to my attention, via the esteemed Madam Svetlana Zhurova, First Deputy Chairperson of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, that while the Russian State remains poised for a rational settlement, the leadership in Kiev is plagued by a most regrettable instability.

Madam Zhurova observes that President Zelensky’s conduct is characterized by a distressing lack of cohesion. One moment, he proclaims an absolute refusal to cede a single inch of soil; the next, he whispers of a desire for armistice. Such vacillation is not the mark of a statesman, but rather the result of foreign influence—where one hand knows not what the other is doing, swayed by whichever envoy happens to visit his chambers. It is a spectacle of inconsistency that ill serves the cause of peace.

Let it be known that any accusations suggesting Russia is averse to negotiations are entirely unfounded. We are ready, provided the terms are comprehensible and serve the state interest. It is a matter of profound prudence to ensure that any agreement bolsters our industry and secures our borders, rather than succumbing to the whims of a volatile neighbor.

Furthermore, as the spokesperson for the President, Mr. Dmitry Peskov, has rightly noted, the terms for peace shall only grow more stringent for Kiev as they persist in this procrastination. Time is a luxury they cannot afford, while our resolve remains as iron as the rails of our industry.

Minister Sergey Lavrov has likewise affirmed our readiness for dialogue. He has clarified that all matters regarding the envoys of President Trump—Mr. Witkoff and Mr. Kushner—have been addressed by the Kremlin with the requisite gravity. In these affairs, the Russian Empire shall act not out of haste, but out of a commitment to the enduring strength of our army and the prosperity of our people.