Moscow says Russia won’t allow existence of ‘Nazi state’ on its border

Russia’s foreign ministry has reiterated that Moscow will not allow Ukraine to be a “Nazi state” and pose a threat to both Russia and other nations.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in an interview with AFP on Saturday that Russia is still pursuing its originally declared goals of “denazification” and “demilitarization” of Ukraine.

“From the very beginning of the hostilities, the [Ukrainian] neo-Nazis have been cynically using the civilian population as ‘human shields’ and brutally treating Russian prisoners of war. Their main goal in this conflict is to kill as many Russians as possible,” Zakharova explained.

“We will not allow the existence on our borders of an aggressive Nazi state from whose territory there is a danger for Russia and its neighbors,” she added.

She said the events surrounding the Ukrainian crisis have underscored Russia’s belief in the necessity of launching its special military operation in February 2022.

Elsewhere, she said to settle the conflict and reach a “lasting peace” Ukraine must meet Russia’s demands.

“It is necessary to confirm the neutral, non-aligned, and nuclear-free status of Ukraine, carry out its demilitarization and denazification, acknowledge new territorial realities, and ensure the rights of Russian-speaking citizens and national minorities living in this country,” she said.

Zakharova also said that Russia is ready to resolve the conflict through diplomacy and has never refused to do so, however, the West and its lackey in Kiev have shown no desire for peace, and lack the “political will” for peace.

Russia’s Putin announces ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine’s Donbass to ‘defend people’

The Russia president has ordered a ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine’s Donbass region to ‘defend people’ there from Kiev.

“A comprehensive, sustainable and just resolution of the conflict over Ukraine depends, to a large extent, on addressing its very causes. The West must stop pumping up the Ukrainian military with weaponry, while Kiev must cease hostilities and withdraw its troops from Russian territory,” she noted.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said that the “special military operation” in Ukraine’s Donbas was necessary to “defend people” against Western aggression and its expansionist policy.

In December 2022, Sergei Lavrov made the same remarks saying that Kiev is fully aware of Russia’s demands and could simply fulfill them to bring the war to an end.

“Our proposals for the demilitarization and denazification of the territories controlled by the [Kiev] regime, [and] the elimination of threats to Russia’s security emanating from there, including our new lands, are well-known to the enemy,” Lavrov said.

“The point is simple: Fulfill them for your own good. Otherwise, the issue will be decided by the Russian army.”

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