Ambassador Vadym Prystaiko told Newsweek Moscow might consider the retention of Crimea and access to the peninsula success regardless of heavy losses elsewhere.
"I said from the very beginning, that's what Russia actually wanted and why they would have attacked us," the ambassador added."They might not have gone all the way in [to Kyiv]. They actually did, because they saw the opportunity. But they didn't have to."
Zelensky's government has made clear there is no hope of renewed peace talks while Russians remain on Ukrainian territory. Military planners in Kyiv will be hoping that the coming offensive sets the stage for a Russian collapse and Ukrainian victory later this year, though all signals from Moscow indicate Putin is settling in for a long war.
Ukrainian residents of Mariupol are seen carrying on with daily life on the damaged streets on February 26, 2023. The devastated city is a key part of the land bridge between Russia and Crimea established by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
"I understand from my contacts within the higher echelons of military power in Ukraine that losses are high, but not as high as the Russians," Prystaiko said."It was a clever move on our side not to advertise our losses," he added. Historically, Ukraine is a smaller nation than Russia, even if very big by European standards."
Prystaiko has spent time with Ukrainian soldiers training on British bases."I am quite happy with their training here," he said."The numbers will rise. I know that we have to prepare these people. And I hope some of them survive."
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