Russia could be at war for 'a couple of decades' says former spy at 'Putin's Davos'
Russia could be at war for 'a couple of decades' says former spy at 'Putin's Davos'
A former Russian spy has urged Russia to confront the possibility the country could be at war “for a couple of decades” amid mounting questions over the state of the economy.
"We have to admit that we will be at war in the next few years, maybe for a couple of decades," said Andrey Bezrukov at the glitzy St Petersburg International Economic Forum on Wednesday.
Bezrukov, a former spy arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 2010 while living under a false identity in the United States, spoke on the first day of the summit during a session called ‘Russia’s Main Threats in the Second Quarter of the 21st Century’.
"It may be a very hot war, it may be a creeping war. Even if it goes to other regions, we will have two generations that can be considered basically to be at war. And we need to learn how to live with this war," Bezrukov said to applause in a packed hall.
He argued that modern wars are no longer aimed at taking territory but wearing down the opponent, saying the West was trying to avoid a nuclear confrontation and was instead “slowly boiling the frog”.
Bezrukov pointed to the Ukrainian drone attacks on St Petersburg that morning, cautioning that “a drone using Starlink can fly into any region and hit a specific target.”
“This is a serious problem for us - we were not prepared for it.”
James Reynolds4 June 2026 11:55
Comment: I have spent twenty-six years studying Vladimir Putin – this is why I think he’s about to crack
This isn’t the time to push Ukraine towards a half-baked peace deal – I have never known Russia’s ruler look so frightened, says Bill Browder:
I have spent twenty-six years studying Putin – and I think he’s about to crack
This isn’t the time to push Ukraine towards a half-baked peace deal – I have never known Russia’s ruler look so frightened, says Bill Browder
James Reynolds4 June 2026 14:31
Putin won't meet with US reps at 'Russian Davos' forum: TASS
Vladimir Putin does not plan to meet with representatives of the US at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, state news agency TASS reported on Thursday.
James Reynolds4 June 2026 14:27
Poland and Lithuania confirm exploring a bigger role in nuclear deterrence
Poland and Lithuania confirm they are participating in discussions about their potential role in Nato’s nuclear deterrence efforts, which are built around U.S. nuclear weapons in Europe.
While talks are in early stages, expanding U.S. nuclear deterrence in Europe could reassure continental allies of continued U.S. military support at a time when President Donald Trump has led an effort to reduce his country's conventional defense involvement in Europe.
“We are talking, in order to create better conditions for nuclear deterrence and for Poland to play an important role in that,” Polish Deputy Defense Minister Paweł Zalewski told Polish Radio on Wednesday.
Poland and Lithuania confirm exploring a bigger role in nuclear deterrence
Poland and Lithuania confirm they are in talks about their role in NATO's nuclear deterrence efforts, which are centered on U.S. nuclear weapons in Europe
James Reynolds4 June 2026 14:00
Trump’s ballroom chief among US guests at Russia’s own ‘Davos’
Russia’s answer to the Davos economic summit kicked off on Wednesday, days after Vladimir Putin was warned that he can no longer afford to fight his war with Ukraine at the current pace.
Formally known as the St Petersburg Economic Forum, the meeting has attracted an eclectic crowd, including famous Americans attracted to Moscow’s claims of “anti-wokery” and support for “traditional values”.
Moscow will be looking to strengthen its economic footing after top finance officials and Russia’s central bank are said to have urged the Kremlin to rein in spiralling defence spending, with Russia and Ukraine ramping up costly aerial attacks on vital infrastructure.
Alex Croft reports:
The weird and wacky US guests attending Putin’s ‘Russian Davos’
Russia’s version of the international economic forum comes after Moscow’s top finance officials reportedly urged the Kremlin to rein in defence spending. Alex Croft reports on some of the more unexpected attendees
James Reynolds4 June 2026 13:30
Russia and the US discussing joint projects in the Arctic, says Dmitriev
Russia’s RIA news agency now reports that Moscow and Washington are discussing joint projects in the Russian Arctic, citing envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
Earlier, Dmitriev said he had held a call with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner this week, according to TASS.
James Reynolds4 June 2026 13:13
Russia accuses Nato of squeezing Serbia 'like a boa constrictor'
Russia accused Nato on Thursday of squeezing Serbia "like a boa constrictor", citing a joint military exercise taking place there as evidence of an attempt to subjugate the country.
Serbia says the annual ‘Platinum Wolf’ exercise, which began on June 1 with the support of the US European command, is aimed at exchanging best practices and to “enhance the competence and mutual understanding” of countries taking part, which include eight Nato members.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said NATO wanted to take over the Balkans and tear Serbia away from Russia.
“They are wrapping Serbia in the coils of their love like a boa constrictor,” Zakharova told reporters.
Russia has traditionally strong relations with Serbia, which was subjected to a NATO bombing campaign during the 1999 Kosovo war.
James Reynolds4 June 2026 13:00
Russian envoy says he spoke with US negotiators yesterday
Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev said on Thursday that he held a call on Wednesday with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Russian state news agency TASS reported.
James Reynolds4 June 2026 12:56
Ukraine's military hits Russian gunpowder factory in Ryazan region
Ukraine's military has struck a Russian gunpowder factory in the Ryazan region, the General Staff of Ukraine's military said on Thursday.
As a result of the strike, a fire covering an area of over 400 sq m (4300 sq ft) has broken out, it said on Telegram.
They said Ukrainian forces struck “a number of important objects” on Wednesday and overnight into Thursday.
These were said to include a equipment near Novoyehorivka in the Kharkiv region and an enemy command post in Donetsk.
An ammo depot in Hrintal area and fuel and lubricants deports in Crimea and Melitopol were also hit.
“Based on additional analysis of the results, it was established that on June 3, 2026, one tank was destroyed and six tanks and two technical overpasses were damaged in the area of the Saint Petersburg oil terminal,” they said.
James Reynolds4 June 2026 12:40
Overnight: All EU members greenlight first step for Ukrainian accession talks
All members of the European Union gave a green light to open Cluster 1 in accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said on X.
"Fantastic news," she wrote. "We are one step closer to the EU membership: steadily moving towards our goal."
Cyprus, which holds the rotating presidency of the EU, said on X it had starting preparing to formally open negotiation on the first group of negotiating chapters, which cover rule-of-law and democratic standards, with both countries.
Earlier, Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar said his country and Ukraine had reached an agreement on the rights of the 100,000-strong Hungarian minority in Ukraine.
Magyar had previously said that agreement on the long-running dispute was essential if Budapest were to agree to Ukraine joining the EU.
Both Ukraine and Moldova are pressing for membership of the 27-member EU after more than four years of war pitting Kyiv against Moscow.
James Reynolds4 June 2026 12:30
