Vladislav Surkov, once a top advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the chief ideologist behind the "Novorossiya" project, has openly described the Kremlin’s expansionist ambitions in a new interview with French outlet L’Express, published on March 19.
Surkov declared that the so-called "Russian World" doesn’t stop at borders—it reaches wherever Russian influence can be felt, whether through culture, economy, ideology, or military power.
“The Russian World has no borders,” Surkov said. “It exists everywhere there is Russian influence... Russia will spread out in all directions.”
A Russian victory, he said, would mean the “military or military and diplomatic crushing of Ukraine” and the “division of this artificial quasi-state into its natural fragments.”
He made clear that Russia’s long-term strategy hasn’t changed since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, and that any temporary pauses or setbacks are simply part of a longer game.
“Maneuvers, slowdowns, and pauses” are all part of achieving that goal, Surkov said.
According to him, bringing Ukraine back under Russian control has been a priority since the fall of the Soviet Union.
The “Russian World” Narrative Used to Justify Aggression
Surkov’s comments reflect a broader ideological framework known as Russkiy Mir (the Russian World), which the Kremlin has used for decades to justify its actions in Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, and other former Soviet territories.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), in a March 22 report, said this narrative allows Moscow to frame aggression and occupation as legitimate defense of its cultural and historical sphere of influence.
“The Kremlin has used the ‘Russkiy Mir’ narrative for decades to justify Russian aggression,” ISW noted.
While Surkov outlines Russia’s goals in words, the reality in Ukraine shows how aggressively Moscow is pursuing them.
Just days after his interview, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed the scale of Russia’s attacks on civilians:
Over 1,580 guided bombs
Nearly 1,100 attack drones
15 missiles—all launched within a single week
