Marrakesh, 5 Mar. (Morocco-News) –
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday evening that the “special military operation” is not aimed at dividing Ukrainian territory into several parts”, but that Russia is trying “to ensure guarantees of its own security”.
“After the 2014 coup, Ukraine became subject to the influence of Nazi ideology (…) We want to free it from this ideology. In addition, the presence of NATO infrastructure in Ukraine has increased, which directly threatens Russia’s security,” he explained in an interview with Sky News Arabia.
The Kremlin spokesman said that Moscow was trying to “disarm Kyiv” and ensure that “the balance in the security sphere in Europe has changed” and that NATO member states no longer provide aid. arms to Ukraine, reports the Russian news agency TASS.
At the same time, Peskov recalled that Russia, having recognized the independence of the self-proclaimed people’s republics of Donetsk and Luhansk and established diplomatic relations with them, “has obligations towards them, including in the field of security”. .
Regarding the Russian attack on the Zaporiyia nuclear power plant, Mr Peskov stressed that “it was neither attacked nor damaged”, but that it was a “provocation” by the part of “Ukrainian nationalists and extremists”, who “carried out an attack against the Russian armed forces”. He added that “the situation is under control and there is no security threat”.
NEW NEGOTIATIONS
“We look forward to the third round of ongoing negotiations in Belarus with the Ukrainian authorities. And we hope that Ukraine will listen to Russia’s position and concerns, which, in particular, is necessary to stop the military operation,” he stressed.
Commenting on Western countries’ reaction to Russia’s actions, Peskov noted that Moscow “is ready”, as “it has faced such behavior for a long time, including the pressure of sanctions against the Russian Federation”.
The Kremlin spokesman therefore underlined that “Russia has always been in favor of a diplomatic solution” with the NATO countries, in particular to “ensure the guarantees of the non-expansion of the NATO Alliance North Atlantic to the east”.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that the third round of talks between Russia and Ukraine will take place this weekend, during a conversation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Russian and Ukrainian delegations met Thursday in Belarus for the second time since the start of the conflict. The parties agreed to set up humanitarian corridors to allow the passage of food and medicine and to meet again “soon”.
Ukrainian presidential adviser Mikhail Podoliak told a press conference in Lviv, explaining that the talks will take place in Belarus “because the Russian side renounces any other mediating country”.