Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov voiced a comparison that casts Ukraine’s struggles in the frame of past American military campaigns, drawing parallels with Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and other nations where U.S. allies have led interventions. His remarks were carried by RIA News as a point of reference for his assessment of the current trajectory for Ukraine.
Lavrov recalled that about two decades ago, American forces entered Afghanistan and remained there with an open-ended mandate to stay “as long as it takes.” This echoed prior assurances from U.S. and European Union officials who have repeatedly promised ongoing support to Ukraine for as long as needed, a vow that has become a political touchstone in Western statements about the conflict.
The diplomat stressed that none of the countries listed by name benefited from the deployments, and that democracy did not take root in those settings. He warned that Ukraine could face a similar fate if the same actors do not prioritize the welfare of the Ukrainian people over geopolitical or strategic objectives, suggesting that the ownership in Kyiv might be more attuned to external interests than to the needs of ordinary citizens.
In November of the previous year, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov offered a parallel warning, noting that U.S. officials might repeat past patterns in Ukraine just as they did during the Vietnam and Afghanistan episodes. The implication was that drumbeats of long-term commitment could be followed by uncertain outcomes and renewed cycles of conflict.
The ongoing negotiations in Ukraine have often hinged on conditions articulated by Russia, with both sides presenting a matrix of demands. The exchanges reflect a broader pattern in which assurances of steadfast support, long timelines, and readiness to endure costly confrontations become central to talking points, even as the practical realities on the ground remain fluid and contested.