Russian Official Warns of Ukraine's Potential Collapse

Nikolai Patrushev, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, has stated that Ukraine could cease to exist entirely as a state by 2025 due to what he described as 'violent enforcement of neo-Nazi ideology' and rampant Russophobia. He emphasized that the Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv, Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Dnipro are suffering from these issues, which he claims have led to their destruction. Patrushev also asserted that negotiations concerning Ukraine should only take place between Russia and the United States, dismissing other Western nations as unworthy of discussion. He reinforced that Russia's sovereignty over regions previously part of Ukraine remains non-negotiable. In response, Ukrainian officials criticized Patrushev's claims, branding them as reflections of a disconnected reality. They contend that the future of Ukraine is secure despite Russian assertions.