Russia sets conditions for ending military operations in Ukraine

Interview with 2 Russian news agencies Sputnik and RT On March 24, Mr. Dmitry Medvedev, former President, Vice Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, said that the campaign military Russia’s special mission in Ukraine is still going as planned and will continue until the goal of demilitarization and de-fascistization of Ukraine is achieved.

“The special military operation took place mainly because the goals set by the Russian government were not achieved diplomatically. This is what the President of Russia (Vladimir Putin) said when he announced the start of the war. Operational progress and deployment plan are decided by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian army. According to the Constitution (Russia), that person is the President. The president has made his assessments. This plan has been approved by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief,” said Mr. Medvedev.

Medvedev said that the special military operation in Ukraine will continue until the goals set forth by the Russian president are achieved.

These goals concern Ukraine’s future: Ukraine’s status as a neutral country, a country that does not pursue an anti-Russian policy, a country that does not militarize, and a country that is a normal neighbor. Therefore, this operation must continue until the results of the demilitarization and de-fascistization of Ukraine, as planned by the President of Russia, “emphasized Mr. Medvedev.

According to Mr. Medvedev, the West is trying to influence the people and enterprise Russia, hurting them with sanctions and, finally, trying to make them go against government policy, against the policy of the President of Russia, causing trouble for the Russian authorities. However, he believes that the West completely does not understand the “psychology” of the Russian people. He insisted that sanctions would only strengthen Russian society and not cause discontent between the people and the authorities.

Earlier, President Vladimir Putin on March 17 had a phone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and raised Russia’s demands to reach a peace agreement with Ukraine and end the conflict.

The first request made by President Putin was that Ukraine must maintain neutrality and not apply to join NATO. In addition, President Putin also wants Ukraine to go through a disarmament process to ensure it does not pose a threat to Russia. Putin also wants Ukraine to protect Russian-speaking people in Ukraine and de-fascist.

Putin also made other demands to Ukraine, regarding the status of Crimea and the Donbass region, Eastern Ukraine. Russia wants Ukraine to recognize the independence of the breakaway territories in the east and officially accept Crimea as belonging to Russia.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow will stop its military operation in Ukraine “immediately” if Kiev meets the conditions set by Russia. Meanwhile, Boris Medinsky, presidential adviser and chief Russian negotiator, stated that Moscow’s goal in negotiations with Kiev remains unchanged: Russia wants to see a peaceful, free Ukraine, neutral and independent.