An ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin said the war in Ukraine could last for decades, with long periods of fighting interspersed with ceasefires, Russia’s RIA news agency reported on Thursday, as quoted by Reuters.

Ukrainian soldiers from the 80th brigade mask artillery positions in the direction of Bakhmut, as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues in the Donetsk regionPhoto: AA/ABACA / Abaca Press / Profimedia

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, now the vice chairman of Putin’s powerful Security Council, made the remark during a visit to Vietnam.

Medvedev often makes harsh comments, and last month he called the Ukrainian government an infection.

“This conflict will continue for a very long time, most likely decades,” said Medvedev, quoted by RIA.

“As long as there is such a government, there will be, say, three years of truce, two years of conflict, and everything will happen again,” he continued, repeating Moscow’s statement that Ukraine is a Nazi state.

In January, Medvedev said that if Russia was defeated, it could start a nuclear war.

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