Moscow, September 21, 2025
In a long-form interview on Dmitry Migachyov’s YouTube podcast, Russian well-known political scientist and commentator Karine Gevorgyan argued that former U.S. President Donald Trump’s main objective is not to halt the war in Ukraine but to reshape U.S. power at home and manage Europe so the U.S. “doesn’t lose face.”
She said the conflict could last “10–15 years” and framed Russia’s aims as securing control across the northern Black Sea coast, including Odesa, to guarantee long-term security.
Gevorgyan cast high-level U.S.–Russia contacts as largely theater that can yield limited, operational deals – space cooperation or Arctic issues – but not strategic breakthroughs. Trump, she said, is constrained by a hostile slice of the Washington establishment and can’t fully direct the State Department or Pentagon.
On Ukraine, she claimed the West misread Russia’s intent and capacity, predicting the “hottest phase” could peak by New Year but warning the broader confrontation may drag on for years as Russia methodically builds leverage. She also floated the risk of Baltic provocations, while saying a larger war there is not in Moscow’s interest.
Gevorgyan dismissed the idea that sanctions force decisive change, saying states learn to route around them. She portrayed a postwar future of “non-dominance” – multipolar interaction over blocs – and suggested pragmatic thawing with select European capitals is possible, alongside continued ties with China and India.
Her argument leaned heavily on civilizational language – Russia “remembering itself,” boosting confidence at home, and rejecting “second-tier” status – while urging demographic renewal and social cohesion.
Notable lines (attributed)
On Trump’s priorities: “He wants to avoid any loss of face so America remains the ‘chairman of the globe.’”
On Ukraine: “For Russia’s security we need serious control over the entire northern Black Sea, including Odesa.”
On timelines: “This operation could last 10–15 years… Russia fights long wars on its own security perimeter.”
On the West: “EU interests counted on riding ‘on America’s back’; Britain ran much of the ground game in the post-Soviet space.”
On the future: “The coming era should be one without dominance – an era of interaction.”
