The War in Ukraine: Dmitry Medvedev’s Call for Expansion
As the war in Ukraine continues to rage, former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has made a call for Russia to expand its borders, even if that means pushing into the territory of NATO member Poland. In a message on his Telegram account, Medvedev said that victory for Russia was certain, and that a loose agreement would eventually end the fighting. He argued that for the agreement to be lasting, it was necessary for Russia to extend its own borders as far as possible.
Medvedev’s comments come exactly a year after Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in what it called a “special military operation” to protect Russian speakers and ensure its own security. Ukraine has maintained that it is defending itself from an unprovoked war of aggression and has vowed to retake all of its own territory by force.
The former president’s remarks came following a speech by US President Joe Biden in Warsaw, in which he promised to defend “every inch” of NATO territory if it was attacked. Medvedev has adopted an increasingly hawkish tone since the war began, and has made a series of outspoken interventions, leading some political analysts to suggest he may be one of the people that President Putin could consider as a successor.
It remains to be seen if Medvedev’s call for expansion will be heeded, and if so, what the consequences will be. The expansion of Russia’s borders could have far-reaching implications not only for Ukraine, but for the entire region, and could potentially further destabilize Europe.
