ISLAMABAD: Russian Ambassador Albert P. Khorev reiterated Moscow’s call for a political and diplomatic settlement while attributing the prolongation of the Ukraine conflict to Western military and financial support for Kyiv and sanctions against Russia.
Speaking at a regular briefing, Mr Khorev said more than $160 billion in Western military assistance had been provided to Ukraine between 2022 and 2025. He alleged that Western countries were also providing intelligence, communications support and assistance in planning military operations.
The ambassador claimed that Ukrainian attacks had caused civilian casualties and damage to Russian infrastructure, citing Russian government figures. He said Russia had documented 1,472 civilian deaths and 6,754 injuries resulting from Ukrainian strikes, while estimating infrastructure damage at about $13.6bn.
He also criticised Western sanctions, saying they had disrupted international logistics and restricted access to energy, goods, finance and technology. According to estimates cited by the ambassador from Russian economists, the European Union suffered cumulative losses of between €1 trillion and €1.6tr during 2022-25 as a result of the sanctions.
Mr Khorev said the restrictions had accelerated the use of national currencies and encouraged the development of alternative financial mechanisms through BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and ASEAN.
Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026
