Russia expects "new leaders" of Ukraine with whom it will negotiate the end of the war. This statement was made by Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, according to Russian media.
"Everyone understands very well that we will never give up our lands. Therefore, negotiations with some new people are possible, in my opinion, when they recognize the realities on the ground as a result of the actions of our valiant armed forces," he said.
According to Medvedev, "the current Ukrainian government is unlikely to be able to conduct constructive negotiations."
"If you mean the current Ukrainian government, it is unlikely. No, they won't be able to. There were no such people there, there are no such people there, and there will not be," Medvedev said.
He also said that the concept of "Ukraine is not Russia," authored by the second Ukrainian president, Leonid Kuchma, should disappear forever. He said this against the background of a map showing most of Ukraine as Russian territory, while the western regions are Poland and Romania.
"One of the former leaders of Ukraine once said that Ukraine is not Russia. This concept should disappear forever. Ukraine is definitely Russia," Medvedev said.
The head of the Russian Security Council claims that this is the opinion of the majority of the Russian population.
"Attempts to ignore Russian public opinion should fade into oblivion. It rightly considers Ukraine and its people to be part of our all-Russian civilization," Medvedev emphasized.
