By Musa Mdluli

MBABANE:Russia State Intelligence Chief Sergie Naryshkin says his country is close to taking over Ukraine, SkyNews reported on Tuesday.

It has been reported that, Naryshkin told the official publication of the Kremlin's SVR Foreign Intelligence Agency that Russia had the initiative in all areas and the situation on the front was actually not in Kyiv's favour.

"We are close to achieving our goals, while the armed forces of Ukraine are on the verge of collapse,”Naryshkin said.

Russia had initially hoped to rapidly capture the whole of Ukraine when it invaded in February 2022.

But that goal has been significantly pared back due to Ukraine's strong resistance, although Moscow has slowly been edging forward in recent months.

On another note, United States President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to bring the war to a rapid end and wants negotiations to begin. Trump wrote on social media on Sunday that President Zelenskyy and Ukraine "would like to make a deal and stop the madness".

Calling for an “immediate ceasefire", he added:

“I know Vladimir well. This is his time to act. China can help. The world is waiting!"