Norwegian Professor: Stop Dreaming of Bringing Russia to Its Knees

A professor at the University of South-Eastern Norway, Glenn Diesen, has warned that attacks on Russian territory will not force Moscow to surrender in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. According to him, such steps actually risk increasing tensions between Russia and Western nations. In an interview broadcast on the YouTube channel Judging Freedom some time ago, Diesen stated that some parties in the West often view attacks on Russian territory as a sign of Moscow’s weakening position. However, he assessed that these assumptions do not correspond with the reality on the ground. “There is always a perception that when Russia suffers damage, it will collapse. However, Russia has the ability to absorb pressure without having to surrender,” Diesen said. He added that the current situation risks driving a larger escalation of the conflict. According to him, the hope that Russia will surrender as a result of these attacks is unrealistic. Diesen also assessed that Western countries have crossed various red lines in their efforts to pressure and provoke Russia. However, he believes these measures have not yet succeeded in altering Moscow’s strategic position. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova criticised the European Union’s decision to continue providing funding support to the Ukrainian government under President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. According to Zakharova, this policy demonstrates that European countries have not prioritised a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The Russian government has repeatedly stated that Western arms supplies to Ukraine will not change the course of the conflict, but will only prolong the war. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also affirmed that weapons shipments to Ukraine will be considered legitimate targets by the Russian military. The Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has been ongoing since February 2022, continues to be a source of tension between Moscow and Western countries. Several NATO and EU member states continue to provide military and financial assistance to Ukraine, while Russia considers this support to be prolonging the conflict and hindering resolution efforts.