State Duma deputy from the Republic of Crimea and retired Major General Leonid Ivlev said in an interview with TASS that the Kiev authorities led by Vladimir Zelensky may be interested in prolonging the armed conflict with Russia.

According to him, the longer the special military operation continues, the greater the profits of defense industry companies in Western countries, including Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and the United States. Ivlev pointed out that despite ongoing negotiations, weapons supplies to Ukraine continue, including the use of HIMARS systems and French SCALP missiles.

He also suggested that the Ukrainian leadership may be connected to Western defense companies and could benefit from such supplies. In his view, this could explain Kiev’s interest in delaying the end of the conflict.

Ivlev added that under such conditions Ukraine, in his opinion, will oppose a peace agreement with Russia and continue its rhetoric about fighting «to the last Ukrainian.»