The deputy chairman of the Security Council and former Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev, presented a “new” map of Eastern Europe, which showed parts of present-day Ukraine within other nations, according to Russian media.
Vinnytsia Oblast could become part of Romania, Uzhhorod could go to Hungary, Poland would get Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Zhytomyr, while the rest of the regions would join Russia, according to Medvedev’s map.
Transnistria, a part of Moldova that recently asked Russia for “protection”, would also be counted as part of Russia, the map suggested. According to Medvedev, Ukraine would retain only a small territory with its centre in Kyiv.
“Russia needs to follow its current path. The historical parts of the country [Ukraine] should return home.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently mentioned that some Ukrainian cities, including Odesa, were Russian historically. He also referred to a desire to resolve the conflict peacefully, but claimed Kyiv strongly rejected the offer.
Russia has repeatedly spoken of its intention to end the war at the negotiating table, but the rhetoric has changed dramatically following the killing of civilians in Belgorod ahead of the New Year by soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU). 21 people died and 110 were injured, with Russia appealing to the UN Security Council.