Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Moscow, Russia, February 7, 2022. Satellite / Kremlin through REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY // File //
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MOSCOW, March 3 – Russian President Vladimir Putin told French leader Emmanuel Macron on Thursday that Russia would achieve its military intervention in Ukraine no matter what, the Kremlin said.
In a statement issued after a telephone conversation between the French and Russian presidents, the Kremlin made it clear that its goals include demilitarization and neutrality of Ukraine.
Any attempt by Kyiv to postpone talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials will mean that Moscow will add more elements to the list of demands it has already made, it said.
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“Vladimir Putin outlined in detail the main approaches and conditions in the context of negotiations with representatives of Kyiv. It was confirmed that in the first place it is about the demilitarization and neutral status of Ukraine, so that the threat to the Russian Federation will never come from its territory, “the statement said.
“It was stressed that the tasks of the special military operation will be fulfilled in any case, and attempts to gain time by prolonging the talks will only lead to additional demands on Kyiv in our negotiating position.”
The statement said Russia’s “special operation” in Ukraine was going “according to plan.” It says reports that Russian forces are bombing Kyiv are part of a “disinformation campaign against Russia” and that Russian forces are doing everything possible to protect civilians.
Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a “special operation” which it says is not intended to occupy territory, but to destroy the military capabilities of its southern neighbor and capture dangerous nationalists.
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Reporting by the Moscow bureau; edited by Jonathan Oatis
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