Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said that a lasting settlement of the conflict in Ukraine requires the full liberation of Donbass and other territories of Russia's new regions, ensuring Ukraine's neutral and nuclear-free status, and the current Kiev authorities' rejection of nationalist policy. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Sputnik Kazakhstan.
He said this in an interview with Iran's state television and radio company.
Medvedev was asked what conditions Russia considers necessary for a lasting political settlement of the conflict in Ukraine.
"These conditions are well known. They were first announced by our country's president, Vladimir Putin, at a meeting of the Russian Foreign Ministry board. For Iranian viewers, let me list them once again. First of all, the Ukrainian state must have a neutral, nuclear-free and independent status," Medvedev said.
According to the Security Council deputy chairman, ensuring such a status for Ukraine means returning to the fundamental principles enshrined in the country's Constitution, its declaration of sovereignty and a number of other documents from the 1990s.
"Secondly, the current authorities in Ukraine must abandon their nationalist policy, and the practice of banning the use of the Russian language, and everything related to the Russian language and Russia in general, must be condemned. This is also one of the conditions for settling the conflict," he added.
Medvedev recalled that in Ukraine, the Russian language was used as actively as Ukrainian. In his opinion, what is currently happening in the country with regard to the Russian-speaking population contradicts international law. He described it as "an act that has gone beyond the bounds of good and evil."
"Thirdly, the territories specified in the Russian Constitution must come under Russia's jurisdiction. This concerns Donbass and some of Russia's new regions. That is, Russia's sovereignty must be restored. This can be achieved through a diplomatic settlement. This has been stated openly before. If this does not happen, we will achieve it by military means," Dmitry Medvedev said.