Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Moscow would not stop his military campaign in Ukraine even if Kyiv officially left aspirations to join NATO.
Former President Dmitry Medvedev, now the Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, also said in a French television interview that Russia was ready to hold talks with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy who was subject to certain conditions.
Even before the February invasion, Moscow clarified the membership of Ukraine NATO was unacceptable.
“Leaving its participation in the North Atlantic Alliance is now very important, but it is not sufficient to build peace,” Medvedev told LCI Television in Quotes reported by the Russian news agency.
Russia, he said, will continue the campaign until its goal is achieved. Putin says he wants to “deny” Ukraine. Kyiv and West said this was an unfounded excuse for the conquest war.
Russia and Ukraine held several rounds of discussion after the invasion began, but they did not make progress and there were some prospects to start again.
“This (the conversation) will depend on how the event was revealed. We are ready to meet (Zelenskiy),” Medvedev said.
In his comments, he also said the U.S. weapon. which has been supplied to Ukraine – such as the Multi -Roket Himars launcher – has not pose a big threat.
But that can change, he said, if the US sent weapons could reach the target at a further distance.
“That means that when this kind of missile flies 70 km, that’s one thing,” he said. “But when it was 300-400 km, that was another, now it will be a direct threat to the Russian Federation region.”
