Russia wants to bring civilized world to its knees by 2030 - Portnikov

Ukrainian journalist Vitaly Portnikov expressed this opinion on Espreso TV.

"The Russian Federation wants to bring the civilized world to its knees by 2030. It seems to me that this plan is being implemented now. The Kremlin needs to create new fires instead of broadening its expansion. After all, at the end of 2024, the Russian welfare fund will be exhausted. Russia is interested in increasing oil revenues," Portnikov said.

According to him, there are several regions where Russia needs a "big war" that would increase the price of oil, lead to the death of many people and thus create additional revenues for Russia. This would allow the Kremlin to continue the war in Ukraine for at least 5-6 years. This refers to the Middle East and the Western Balkans.

"There will be attempts to create a dangerous situation in the Middle East to take oil players out of the game. I think this will be done in the coming months. A fire will break out there with renewed vigor, possibly with the help of Iran, which is also interested in increasing oil prices. Of course, the Western Balkans are not about oil, but about the fact that the West must forget about its illusions about the possibility of expansion and realize that wherever it touches with its hands, blood will flow. The West now associates the idea of enlargement of the European Euro-Atlantic Union with crowds of refugees, blood, destruction and all that Ukraine is going through," he summarized.

• More than 50 countries are demanding that Russia comply with the UN International Court of Justice and end the war in Ukraine.