Novorossiya project ideologist claims ‘Russian world’ has no borders and aims to expand in all directions – ISW

Former advisor to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and the chief ideologist of the Novorossiya project, Vladislav Surkov, has stated that the ideology of the "Russian World" has no borders, so the Russian Federation will continue to expand its influence in all directions.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported this.

According to military analysts, Surkov, who is called the ideologist of the "Novorossiya" project, which included the annexation of the southeastern regions of Ukraine and Crimea, voiced Russia's expanded imperial ambitions in an interview with the French publication L'Express. According to him, the ideology of the "Russian World" "has no borders" and is present "everywhere where there is Russian influence."

The Russian politician also stated that Russia will achieve this strategic goal, which, according to him, has not changed since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, even if there are "maneuvers, slowdowns and pauses" along the way.

Surkov stated that for Russia, the return of Ukraine to its sphere of influence has been a goal since the collapse of the Soviet Union and called Ukraine an "artificial political entity."

According to him, Russia's war in Ukraine will "divide Russians and anti-Russians" and "confine" the latter to their "historical territory" so that they "stop spreading across Russian land."

Answering a question about Russia's borders, Surkov stated that the "Russian world" ideology has no borders and exists "wherever there is Russian influence" – cultural, military, economic, ideological, or humanitarian. He said the Russian Federation "will spread in all directions."

Analysts note that the Kremlin has repeatedly used the concept of the "Russian world" to justify military intervention in former Soviet republics, claiming that the territories of the former USSR and the Russian Empire are historical Russian lands.

"The Kremlin has used the "Russkiy Mir" narrative for decades to justify Russian aggression in Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova and to set conditions to influence independent countries once colonized by the Soviet Union and the Russian Empire.

Putin and other senior Russian officials have repeatedly propagated pseudo-history to deny Ukrainian statehood and nationhood and have falsely asserted that Ukraine's Western neighbors have legitimate claims to Ukrainian territory to sow division between Ukraine and Europe," military experts concluded.

ISW key findings for March 22:

• US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff uncritically amplified several Russian demands, claims, and justifications regarding the war in Ukraine during an interview on March 21.
• Vladislav Surkov, a former close adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, recently reiterated several longstanding Kremlin claims and ambitions that directly contradict Witkoff's assertions in an interview with French media aimed at Western audiences.
• Surkov's statements are consistent with those made by Putin and senior Russian officials, who have recently and repeatedly stated that Russia intends to bring Ukraine under Russian control and establish suzerainty over neighboring countries to weaken the West and strengthen Russia's global influence.
• Witkoff uncritically repeated several inaccurate Russian claims regarding the status of the Ukrainian territories that Russia illegally occupies.
• Witkoff's statements undermine US President Donald Trump's stated desired end state for the war in Ukraine that achieves an enduring peace and is in the best interests of the United States, Ukraine, and Europe.
• Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Pokrovsk, and Russian forces recently advanced near Siversk, Pokrovsk, and the western Zaporizhzhia region.
• The Kremlin continues to innovate new ways to leverage conscripts to increase the pool of servicemembers eligible for military service in the future.

It is worth adding that the Russian authorities have intensified information attacks, trying to undermine the possibility of peace talks with Ukraine. In particular, the Kremlin is using narratives about Ukrainian strikes and hostilities on Russian territory.

American official Steve Witkoff emphasized that the ultimate goal of negotiations between the United States, Ukraine, and the Russian Federation is to achieve a 30-day ceasefire. When this agreement is reached, talks on a complete cessation of hostilities will begin.

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