A close aide to Vladimir Putin has claimed the world could face nuclear annihilation unless Ukraine agrees to give up parts of its territory permanently. Vladimir Medinsky, who led Russia’s delegation in failed peace talks with Kyiv in 2022, said a superficial ceasefire without “real peace” would only delay a wider war – and could lead to what he called “the end of the planet.”
Speaking to Kremlin-backed RT, Medinsky said: “If we stop the conflict along the front line and do not agree on real peace, just conclude some kind of truce… then this region will turn into a huge Karabakh. After some time, Ukraine, together with NATO, with its allies, will join NATO, will try to win it back, and this will be the end of the planet, it will be a nuclear war.”
He added: “We don’t want a pretext to be created – a gigantic Karabakh, unrecognised by anyone – because of which a nuclear war could break out.
“Therefore, we want to stop, conclude a full-fledged peace and recognise the new territories.”
Mr Medinsky’s comments appear to be part of a renewed Russian effort to pressure Ukraine into accepting territorial losses as the basis for any future peace.
President Putin has repeatedly demanded Kyiv cede the four regions Russia claimed to annex in 2022, despite not fully controlling any of them.
Ukraine, backed by NATO allies, has rejected those terms outright, insisting Russian troops must withdraw from all occupied territory, including Crimea.
Mr Medinsky’s warning comes ahead of a planned Swiss-hosted peace summit later this month, which Russia has said it will not attend.
He previously served as culture minister and now acts as an adviser to the Russian president.