Expert: US wants to exhaust Russia Vadim Kozyulin on Caliber.AZ

"The US goal is to exhaust Russia to the point that will lead to a change of power in the country," Vadim Kozyulin, candidate of political sciences, professor at the Academy of Military Sciences, acting head of the Center for Global Studies and International Relations of the Institute of Current International Problems of the Russian Diplomatic Academy and PIR Center consultant told Caliber.Az, commenting on the situation in Ukraine.

Kozyulin believes that the parties to the current conflict in Ukraine are essentially Russia and NATO, led by the U.S.

"Ukraine was destined to become a zone of the 'hot phase' of this conflict. The 2014 coup in Kyiv and the subsequent actions of the new Ukrainian authorities provoked Russia's response in the form of a 'special military operation,'" the political scientist said.

According to Kozyulin, Washington understands that Donbass or Crimea are not the only bets in this geopolitical game.

"This is about preserving U.S. global dominance. That is why the response to the Russian special military operation was so powerful and harsh. The economic superiority of the West against Russia is known. The West is trying to use it as its main instrument of pressure. However, the military capabilities of NATO and the United States, especially in terms of conventional weapons, communications and intelligence, are also very great. Therefore, the Pentagon generals, who are now defining Kyiv's military strategy, may challenge Russia's positions in Transnistria. We can also expect surprises in Central Asia where the threat of extremism persists because Washington is trying to tear CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization) allies away from Moscow," he added.

Kozyulin also said that the goal of the United States is a change of power in Russia.

"The United States does not need a large-scale conflict, they will avoid radical scenarios. Its goal is to exhaust Russia to the point that will lead to a change of power in the country. The ideal scenario for the U.S. is when a pro-Western leader appears in the Kremlin. Then it would turn out that the main U.S. competitor - China now has a border with a pro-Western country over 4,000 kilometers long. The position of Washington in competition with Beijing will sharply strengthen," the expert concluded.