Former Russian president Medvedev explains why Putin fights

Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s former president and now deputy chairman of the Security Council and chairman of the United Russia party, has argued that the war in Ukraine is driven by a need for Russia to remain a great power. In a recent interview with Vedomosti, he described Western support for Ukraine as pushing the world toward “nuclear apocalypse,” and said Moscow “reserves the right” to use nuclear weapons if its security is threatened. Days later, he addressed United Russia officials ahead of the Sept. 18-20 State Duma elections. United Russia won 349 of 450 seats. Estimates cited in the piece say Russia has suffered more than 1.4 million military casualties, including up to 500,000 killed since 2022, with a reported net gain of about 39 square miles.