Putin ally says Ukraine war could last for decades and warns Russia will launch pre-emptive strike if West gives Ukraine nuclear weapons

Stark warning to West: Russia's Deputy head of the Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev. Reuters

David Ljunggren

A top ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Ukraine war could last for decades, with long periods of fighting interspersed by truces, Russia's RIA news agency reported on Thursday.

It said former president Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Putin's powerful security council, had spoken during a visit to Vietnam.