Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the Kyiv authorities were carrying out harsher and more ruthless attacks as the situation on the front became more difficult.
Putin made the remarks in a speech at the 23rd Congress of the United Russia party in Moscow, the Russian capital. The congress was held ahead of State Duma elections scheduled for September.
Referring to the ongoing “special military operation” in Ukraine, Putin argued that the worsening situation on the front was making the Kyiv authorities intensify their attacks. He claimed that this situation revealed the “Nazi essence” of the structure Russia says it is fighting.
Lavrov comments on the West and the elections
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also told journalists during the congress that Western countries would try to obstruct the State Duma elections but that these efforts would fail.
Lavrov accused the West of “declaring war” on Russia through Ukraine. Arguing that there was no counterpart in Europe with whom an agreement could be reached, Lavrov said Western countries expected Russia to approach them for an agreement, but that Moscow would not go to Europe for that purpose.
Moscow objects to proposal for a European force
Lavrov also opposed the possibility of Europe deploying “stabilization forces” to Ukraine if a ceasefire were reached. He said such an arrangement would amount to accepting a ceasefire that would preserve the structure Moscow describes as a “Nazi regime.”
Lavrov further argued that such an agreement would enable the deployment of “Nazi cells” that he claimed had re-emerged in Europe in recent years and spread to Ukraine. He asserted that halting fighting along the contact line would give Ukraine time to rearm.
Background to the conflict
Russia has been conducting a military offensive against Ukraine since February 24, 2022. Moscow makes ending the offensive conditional on Kyiv abandoning plans to join Western military structures, while Kyiv considers this demand interference in its internal affairs.
