Russia to continue war in Ukraine even if Kyiv agrees to not join NATO, says Putin's ally

Amid persisting concerns of a possible "nasty" attack from Russian troops, a close ally of Russian President Vlimir Putin asserted that peace with Ukraine might t be established even after Kyiv abandons its aspirations to join NATO, US-led military alliance. While speaking to French television, former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, w deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, said that peace talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will depend on specific conditions. Earlier, before and after onset of war, Putin, on several occasions, demanded Ukraine should t join rth Atlantic Treaty Organisation-- an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states including 28 European and two rth American.

"Abandoning its participation in US-backed alliance is w vital, but t necessary to establish peace between two countries," Medvedev told LCI television. Furr, he claimed that war with neighbouring country would continue until goal set by Putin will be achieved. "This dialogue with Zelenskyy will depend on how events unfold. We were rey before to meet Ukrainian President," Medvedev ded.

Attack on Russia became clear in 2019

While Russia installed Lugansk Ambassor Rodion Miroshnik, told news ncy TASS that preparations for a military conflict with Ukraine were alrey started after rmandy Four summit in Paris in December 2019. It was time when Zelenskyy refused all settlement options for resolving situation in Donbass at rmandy Four summit in Paris. " fact that Ukraine received an instruction t to agree on anything, eir in Minsk or in rmandy formats, and that y began to prepare it for military conflict, became completely clear within first three months after Paris," said Miroshnik. According to him, Ukraine igred threats in 2019 and hence lost "last opportunity" to save country and avoid mass bloodshed. He accused that decision to attack Ukraine was me Ukraine by Western leers-- a claim countered by leers. 

Why is Russia against Ukraine joining NATO?

tably, Ukraine is a former Soviet republic and shares a border with Russia and European Union. Though Ukraine is t a member of intergovernmental military alliance, it is a "partner country". According to NATO, if a county is t "an alliance" but "a partner", it means that country can join group in future. It is to be ted that Russia wants Ukraine to never join alliance and has been seeking assurance from Western powers.

Im: AP