Ukraine's UN envoy: Russia is losing the war amid economic strain

Ukraine's permanent representative to the United Nations, Andrii Melnyk, told a UN Security Council meeting held to mark Ukraine's Independence Day that Russia will ultimately lose the war it launched, despite continued attacks on civilians.

Melnyk noted that the Kremlin, acting on a direct order, dismissed Andrei Klepach, chief economist of VEB.RF, Russia's second-largest state bank, after Klepach warned that Moscow could not win a prolonged economic war against Ukraine. According to the diplomat, this was a rare admission by a senior Russian economist of the scale of the country's problems, directly contradicting Vladimir Putin's claims of successfully withstanding economic pressure.

Economic strain

Melnyk said Russia's economy is going through its most difficult period since the start of the full-scale invasion, pressured by enormous military spending, Western sanctions, and Ukraine's growing ability to strike Russia's oil and gas sector. In the first four months of 2026, Russia's budget deficit reached 5.8 trillion rubles, far exceeding the government's full-year plan of 3.8 trillion. According to Russia's own Finance Ministry, federal budget revenues from oil and gas fell by nearly 40% year-on-year in January–April. Melnyk said Russia cannot sustain a prolonged war of attrition, as losses outpace troop recruitment while financial and material costs keep rising.

Criticism of the Security Council

The diplomat called it a disgrace that the Security Council has so far failed to take effective action against Russia's actions targeting Ukrainian civilians. He said Russia is deliberately exploiting Ukraine's shortage of air-defense interceptor missiles to strike civilians across the country.

Melnyk called for the toughest and broadest possible sanctions against Russia, particularly targeting companies producing weapons, and for an end to Russia's abuse of its veto power. He stressed Ukraine's critical need for Patriot missiles and other modern air-defense systems, urging partners to transfer to Kyiv all available interceptors currently sitting in stockpiles.