Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, stated that Russia could not allow the existence on its borders of a state “which has a documented intention to use any methods to take away Crimea,” according to Russian media.
Peskov recalled that four new subjects had joined Russia, and Moscow made it a priority to keep people safe in those territories.
Previously, Putin reiterated that Russia was ready for talks with Ukraine, noting that it should not be a pause that would give Kyiv an opportunity to regain strength and rearm. Earlier this month, Pope Francis stated that Ukraine should have “courage of the white flag” of negotiations, prompting sharp criticism from Ukrainian lawmakers.
The Kremlin spokesman also claimed that what Moscow called a “special military operation” in Ukraine had turned into a war due to the interference of Western countries.
We are in a state of war. Yes, it started as a special military operation, but […] when the collective West joined it on the side of Ukraine, it became a war for us.
