Russians no longer believe in peace in Ukraine

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“Every war ends in peace,” said Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, 67, when asked how it would all end in Ukraine. “And when will that happen?” asks the journalist. Shoigu looks around nervously and leaves the journalist – he has no answer. But what do the Russian people think about reconciliation?

Radio Liberty asked people in Moscow how likely they think a peace between Ukraine and Russia is. “Reconciliation is no longer possible, we have already gone too far,” says one woman. The other respondents are also pessimistic. The answers reflect a mixture of Russian propaganda and war-weariness.

“How can a truce be possible if they hate us?” asks an elderly woman. “It would escalate again in a few years,” she says. And: “We don’t wish death on anyone!”

Russian propaganda has left its mark

But not all Russians think that way. “If we take them all…”, a Russian starts a sentence and searches for the right word. Whether he means ‘defeat’ or ‘kill’ is not clear. Without finishing the sentence, he continues: «Then everything will be peaceful and good. There is no other way out.” A slightly older man has a similar opinion. “A ceasefire is impossible, the West will not allow it,” he says. “The Ukrainians are the puppets of the US. They are interested in a long war.” Putin’s propaganda is bearing fruit.

“They think we’re the bad guys and we’re wrong,” an elderly woman replies. “If there is a different power and different propaganda in Ukraine, everything will change,” she concludes.

“Our country has caused Ukraine too much suffering”

Another part of the population is tired of the conflict. “A ceasefire would be very good,” says a young man who seems old enough to be hit by a second wave of mobilizations. “You’re on constant alert right now,” he continues.

“I don’t think reconciliation is possible because civilians are being killed,” says a young woman. A slightly older woman agrees. “They don’t like us and they don’t understand us – that will overtake us at some point.

In the eyes of the Russian people, reconciliation between neighboring countries still seems a long way off. “It will be a long and difficult process,” says a young man. “Our country has caused Ukraine too much suffering. The Ukrainian people will not easily forgive us for this.”

Source: Blick