The representative of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov argued on Wednesday that Russia’s struggle with the West is “a war in the broadest sense” and warned that it is certain to last.

“If you mean, say, war in a broad context — a confrontation with enemy states, with unfriendly countries, a hybrid war that they have launched against our country — it is sure to last for a long time” he said characteristically.

“We must remain steadfast, self-confident – focused and united around the president,” he told a news conference, responding to a question about how long the “special military operation,” as the Russians call the war in Ukraine, might last, and whether it was likely to end this year.

Regarding progress in military operations, Peskov clarified, only the authorities concerned, such as the Ministry of Defense, are able to comment.

It is noted that the Sweden announced earlier that he was summoning Russia’s ambassador to Stockholm, Viktor Tatarinchev, after his remarks that the country and Finland would, once they join NATO, be “legitimate targets” for “retaliatory measures by Moscow”, including “measures of a military nature”.

“The Foreign Secretary will summon the Russian ambassador to unequivocally repudiate this apparent attempt at influence,” Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said in a written statement to AFP.

“Only Sweden decides on its national security policy, no one else,” he added.