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Fireworks, champagne, caviar – in Russia, the Kremlin’s elite toasted each other on New Year’s Eve, while shooting continued in Ukraine. There were toasts to peace and the return to normalcy in 2023 – but one thing caused a bad mood. “It’s going to be a lot harder. It’s going to take a very, very long time,” Kremlin spokesman Dimitri Peskov, 55, predicted at the party.
“It was unpleasant to hear his speech,” a guest, who wishes to remain anonymous, told the Guardian. “It was clear that he thought this war would last and that we had to prepare for a long time.”
Peskov thus confirmed what Russian President Vladimir Putin (70) repeatedly suggested. In his State of the Nation speech, the Kremlin chief claimed that Russia was fighting for its existence. A Western diplomat described the speech as preparation for a “war that never ends”.
Military is preparing for long war
American military experts are also concerned. “We see that the Russian army is preparing for a long war,” said Rob Lee, a US defense policy expert, in The Guardian.
The wealthy people of Russia have been hit hard by Western sanctions. Privately, some Kremlin elites have spoken out against the war, but in public it remains largely silent. (jwg)
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
