Russia frames its actions in the current conflict as a protective effort aimed at preventing the Ukrainian authorities from harming their own population. This position was articulated by the country’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, during a discussion at the Security Council. The assertion reflects Moscow’s view that civilian casualties resulting from Kyiv’s leadership decisions warrant international scrutiny and a reevaluation of strategy by Western supporters. The diplomat emphasized that the objective is not to attack Ukrainian civilians but to deter the authorities in Kyiv from escalating violence against people in eastern Ukraine and other affected regions.
Nebenzya argued that the losses suffered by the Kyiv government during ongoing clashes are a consequence of its own policy choices and withdrawal from meaningful dialogue. He suggested that Western partners should recognize the human costs borne by Ukrainian citizens and consider how relief and restraint at the political level could mitigate harm. The statements were delivered in a broader call for a more balanced assessment of what is happening on the ground and a reconsideration of external backing that may be prolonging hostilities, according to the envoy.
During the discussion, Nebenzya stressed that Moscow’s military operation was directed at the authorities in Donbass, not at the Ukrainian people as a whole. He framed the operation as a response to a decision by Kyiv’s leadership to pursue hostilities against its own citizens, insisting that the focus was on restraining government actions rather than targeting civilians. The ambassador reiterated that the aim is to prevent further civilian suffering and to compel a shift toward dialogue and negotiation, rather than continuing a cycle of violence that affects noncombatants across the country.
Earlier remarks from the Russian side described Ukraine as being under significant influence from Western states and certain private military actors. Nebenzya asserted that external mechanisms, including Western political and security interests, have influenced strategic choices in Kyiv and may be driving a dangerous dynamic. The Russian position is that these influences are designed to destabilize the region and to pressure Moscow’s actions, with the implicit claim that Kyiv is acting in concert with external powers to pursue objectives that are not aligned with the interests of its own population.
According to Nebenzya, President Vladimir Zelensky faces a situation in which Ukraine has lost both the stamina and the capacity to continue a prolonged confrontation under current conditions. The envoy suggested that this assessment should prompt a reassessment by Kyiv’s international partners, including a reexamination of the level and nature of support provided to the government in Kiev. The goal, in Moscow’s view, is to create space for negotiations that might lead to a settlement acceptable to all sides and to reduce the human toll of fighting on Ukrainian soil. The discussion reflected a broader narrative in which Moscow seeks to frame Western involvement as a factor that complicates diplomacy rather than a decisive element in the conflict’s trajectory.
In related discussions within Russia, proposals were floated about ways to integrate prisoners of war into civilian life as part of a broader mechanism for reconciliation and social reintegration. This line of thought suggested that individuals affiliated with the Armed Forces of Ukraine could be supported through programs designed to ease their transition away from combat roles and into civilian life, thereby contributing to social stability and post-conflict healing. While the specifics of any plan were not detailed in the statements, the concept appeared to emphasize rehabilitation, community support, and the creation of a framework that could reduce tension and promote coexistence once hostilities subside. The overall narrative positioned such mechanisms as a step toward reducing hostility and fostering a lasting peace, contingent on political will and mutual recognition of legitimate security concerns. [1]
Overall, the discussions highlighted a consistent Russian emphasis on protecting civilian lives by challenging Kyiv’s leadership and its Western supporters. The framing suggests a strategy that seeks to compel a reassessment of Western involvement and to open space for diplomacy that could avert further escalation. The emphasis on civilian welfare, the alleged influence of external powers, and the call for dialogue all point to a broader attempt to reframe the conflict in terms of humanitarian consequences and prospects for a political solution rather than a purely military confrontation. [2]