As he claimed, speaking to the Russia-24 satellite network, "the operation in the short term will restore peace in Ukraine and prevent a potentially larger military conflict in Europe."
Mr. Naryshkin said with disappointment that "during the last fruitless round of talks with Western leaders, the Russian leadership became convinced that the principle of equal security guarantees for all members of this organization, enshrined in the OSCE documents, is empty words for the United States and other NATO members," so "we are forced to defend ourselves and our allies on our own."
The senior Russian official, who was publicly "corrected" recently by President Putin to express more clearly his view on Moscow's recognition of the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Lugansk, noted that "the West loves to mock the (great) patience of the Russians, and that is true, but it is not unlimited either." "For 20-25 years we have incessantly indicated to our Western colleagues that it is unacceptable for the aggressive infrastructure of the NATO alliance to approach our borders," Naryshkin said, noting that "Russia cannot allow Ukraine to turn into a sword of Damocles raised above us in the hands of Washington."
"The only way to this today is demilitarization, denazification and neutral status of the Ukrainian state," the Russian official concluded."
Source: CNA
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