War could last for decades, Putin ally warns The war in Ukraine could last for decades, a key ally of Vladimir Putin has said, Russia's RIA news agency reported. Former president Dmitry Medvedev said it could turn into a conflict characterised by long periods of fighting interspersed by truces. Mr Medvedev, deputy head of Mr Putin's powerful security council, made the characteristically hardline comments during a visit to Vietnam - last month he described Ukrainian authorities as an infection. "This conflict will last a very long time, most likely decades," RIA quoted Mr Medvedev saying. "As long as there is...