Ex-president says Russia won’t stop war even if Ukraine drops Nato bid
- Dmitry Medvedev also said Moscow was prepared to hold talks with Ukrainian President Zelensky subject to certain conditions
- He added Russia would continue the campaign until its goals had been achieved
Even before the February invasion, Moscow made clear Ukrainian membership of Nato was unacceptable to it.
“Renouncing its participation in the North Atlantic alliance is now vital, but it is already insufficient in order to establish peace,” Medvedev told LCI television in quotes reported by Russian news agencies.
Putin orders Russian military to increase soldier numbers
Russia and Ukraine held several rounds of talks after the invasion began, but they made no progress and there are few prospects for a resumption.
“This [talks] will depend on how events unfold. We were ready before to meet [Zelensky],” Medvedev said.
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‘Will never get down on our knees’: Ukrainians speak 6 months after Russia’s invasion
In his comments, he also said US weapons already supplied to Ukraine – like HIMARS multiple-rocket launchers – did not yet pose a substantial threat.
But that could change, he said, if US sent weapons could hit targets at longer distances.
“It means that when this sort of missile flies 70km, that is one thing,” he said. “But when it’s 300-400 km, that is another, now that would be a threat directly to the territory of the Russian Federation.”
