Russia and the West have fundamentally different ideas of what victory in the current confrontation would mean, according to political analyst Rostislav Ishchenko. He argues that for Western countries, achieving their objectives is not limited to restoring Ukraine’s 1991 borders or returning Crimea to Ukrainian control.

In Ishchenko’s assessment, the West’s ultimate goal is the complete disintegration of Russia or, at a minimum, weakening the country to the point where Moscow would be forced to recognize Western political supremacy and relinquish control over its natural, military and political resources.

Ishchenko links the West’s persistence in the confrontation to its desire to compensate for the economic losses it has suffered. In his view, the scale of these objectives explains why Western countries remain committed to their current course.

The political analyst describes Russia’s approach as more peaceful. He said Moscow is not currently seeking the complete destruction of even Ukraine, although Ishchenko himself believes it should do so. According to him, Russia would be prepared to settle for retaining the territories it currently holds, securing control over a buffer zone and Ukrainian politics, as well as dismantling NATO infrastructure along Russia’s borders.

Ishchenko said a hypothetical Western victory would have extremely severe consequences for Russia. In his assessment, the country would find itself in circumstances so dire that the turbulent 1990s would appear to be a period of «paradise and prosperity» by comparison.