Russia is already losing and will suffer defeat in its war -- Melnyk at UN Security Council
Russia is losing the war it unleashed, and its economy is becoming increasingly strained by spending, sanctions, and Ukrainian strikes, Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the UN Andrii Melnyk said.
At a UN Security Council meeting commemorating Ukraine's Independence Day, Ukrainian diplomat Andriy Melnyk declared that Russia is already losing and will ultimately suffer defeat in its war against Ukraine. Melnyk cited the dismissal of Andrei Klepach, a top economist at Russia's second-largest state-owned bank, VEB.RF, who had criticized the state of the Russian economy and warned Moscow would not win a prolonged economic conflict with Ukraine.
This admission of the Russian economy's struggles directly contradicted President Vladimir Putin's claims of economic success against Ukraine. Melnyk highlighted that Russia's economy is grappling with its most challenging period since the start of the full-scale invasion, facing immense military expenditures, Western sanctions, and Ukraine's increasing capacity to target Russia's oil and gas infrastructure.
In the first four months of 2026, Russia's budget deficit reached a staggering 5.8 trillion rubles, far surpassing the government's annual budget plan of 3.8 trillion rubles. Additionally, oil and gas revenue from federal budgets plummeted by nearly 40% year-on-year during the same period. Melnyk asserted that Russia cannot sustain a prolonged war of attrition, as its military losses exceed its ability to recruit personnel, and financial and material costs continue to rise.
The Kremlin, Melnyk argued, magnifies its tactical successes to portray continuous military gains. The United States also addressed the UN Security Council, urging Russia and Ukraine to resume negotiations.
Written by urgent.news from Ukrinform - Politics's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
