Medvedev confirms United Russia's commitment to protracted war in Ukraine
Dmitry Medvedev, head of United Russia and deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, said in an interview with Vedomosti published on 10 September that Russia must continue the war in Ukraine, pursue long-term militarization of society, and demand increasing economic sacrifices from Russian citizens. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) read the remarks as an official confirmation by United Russia of a protracted-war course ahead of September State Duma elections.
Key points
- Medvedev, head of United Russia and deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, confirmed the party's commitment to a protracted war in Ukraine.
- In a Vedomosti interview published 10 September, he said Russia must continue the war and pursue long-term militarization of Russian society.
- Medvedev said Russian society must remain in a state of constant readiness for war even after hostilities end.
- He said Russia's defense industry should refocus on stockpiling weapons to repel what he described as a NATO threat.
- Medvedev rejected the prospect of mobilization, despite reports that the Kremlin is preparing groundwork for it after the September State Duma elections.
- ISW analysts said Medvedev is using his position to position United Russia as the leader of an informal Russian state ideology of war and ultranationalism.
- ISW noted the Kremlin is militarizing Russian youth and expanding the 'Time of Heroes of Russia' program that places war veterans in state positions.
Why it matters
By making these statements as head of United Russia, Medvedev elevates support for a protracted war from an unofficial Kremlin posture to the official platform of Russia's ruling party ahead of the September State Duma elections. He frames continued militarization and economic sacrifice not as a temporary wartime measure but as a permanent condition for Russian society. The contrast between Medvedev's denial of mobilization and concurrent reporting of mobilization preparations — by Zelensky, Ukrainian intelligence and The Moscow Times — points to a credibility gap in Russian public messaging. ISW analysts read the interview as analytical confirmation that a pro-war, ultranationalist state ideology is being institutionalized in Russia.
What happened
Dmitry Medvedev, head of United Russia and deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, gave an interview to the Russian newspaper Vedomosti published on 10 September, in which he confirmed the ruling party's commitment to a protracted war in Ukraine. He said Russia must continue the war, carry out long-term militarization of Russian society, and demand increasing economic sacrifices from citizens. He added that Russian society must remain in a state of constant readiness for war even after hostilities end, and that the defense industry should shift to stockpiling weapons to repel what he described as a NATO threat. Medvedev rejected the prospect of mobilization, even as reporting indicated that the Kremlin is laying groundwork for it following the September State Duma elections. The Institute for the Study of War assessed that Medvedev is using his position to position United Russia as the leader of an informal Russian state ideology of war and ultranationalism, and noted that the Kremlin is militarizing Russian youth and expanding the 'Time of Heroes of Russia' program that places war veterans in state positions.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Both Ukrainian source outlets frame the story through ISW's analysis of the Vedomosti interview, presenting Medvedev's remarks as an official confirmation by United Russia of a protracted-war course. The Ukrainian-language coverage places Medvedev's statements alongside reporting by Zelensky and Ukrainian intelligence on Russian mobilization preparations, connecting the political messaging directly to a concrete military build-up.
Where reporting differs
Medvedev denied the prospect of mobilization, while Zelensky, Ukrainian intelligence and The Moscow Times reported that Russia is preparing and partially conducting mobilization, including a reported plan for 300,000–600,000 additional conscripts in 2026–2027. Separately, US President Donald Trump said after his recent conversation with Putin that Putin 'wants to make a deal,' whereas Medvedev's interview and Zelensky's assessment frame Russia as committed to continuing the war and exploiting a harsh winter against Ukraine.
Background
On 22 August, Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly characterized United Russia as a party of war tasked with implementing his ideological goals. Zelensky and Ukrainian intelligence have reported Russian preparations for large-scale mobilization in 2026–2027, citing internal Russian documents. The Moscow Times reported complaints of detentions and forced mobilization across at least 17 Russian regions in the weeks before these statements. Trump recently said Putin 'wants to make a deal,' while Zelensky said Putin is counting on a harsh winter to weaken Ukraine — divergent framings of Russia's intentions.