By Ezekiel David
Sergei Chemezov, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has warned that continued US and Western support for Ukraine could lead to a global conflict.
His remarks follow Ukraine’s recent incursion into Russia’s Kursk region, to which Putin has promised to retaliate.
Over two years into what Moscow refers to as its “special military operation” in Ukraine, Chemezov—the head of Rostec, a state-run company that supplies a large portion of Russia’s armaments—said that his country is still self-assured and well-prepared.
According to him, the US is encouraging the prolonged conflict by arming Kyiv and allowing strikes on Russian territory. He emphasized that the conflict is a broader struggle between the West and Russia.
“The further it goes, the greater the risk that the world will be drawn into a global conflict,” Chemezov stated.
Chemezov downplayed concerns about the effects of Western sanctions on the Russian economy, claiming that shortages have not occurred in Russian stores and that Rostec has adjusted by substituting domestic manufacture for Western components. He made the point that with Western companies leaving the Russian market, Russian enterprises, like Rostec, now have more opportunities.
Notwithstanding a reduction in Russia’s worldwide arms shipments, Chemezov voiced optimism about future demand, pointing to the effectiveness of the country’s munitions in the Ukrainian conflict. The defence industry, he asserted, will continue to play a key role in Russia’s economy even after the conflict ends.
(Source: Reuters)