Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grushko spoke about the strategic defeat of the West

The conflict in Ukraine has reached a phase where the West is suffering a strategic defeat, as it has not achieved its goals in three components of the fight against Russia, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said in an interview with Izvestia.

"In fact, the conflict has reached a phase where the West is suffering a strategic defeat. Because for all three components that are being calculated — military defeat on the battlefield, the collapse of the economy, and ultimately, as they put it, regime change — the result is exactly the opposite. If we look at the economic side, our economy is growing by 4%, while in the European Union it is about 0.1% to 1%, close to the statistical error. And the situation on the battlefield is well known," Grushko explained.

In the military style: The EU has become the main problem for resolving the conflict in Ukraine

Why are European countries interested in continuing the fighting

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on March 13 that he agreed with the proposal to cease hostilities in Ukraine. At the same time, the Russian leader noted that there are a number of important issues related to monitoring and verifying compliance with the truce, as well as stopping the supply of weapons to Kyiv.

Earlier, during negotiations in Saudi Arabia, Ukraine agreed to a 30-day ceasefire initiative.