“As long as these people are in power, the situation for Russia will not change in terms of negotiations”
It is not the first time that Russia, and Medvedev in particular, has warned of an escalation of the war. Russia, which possesses by far the most nuclear weapons, had previously warned that if the West actively interferes in the war, it could escalate into a wider conflict. Putin loyalist Medvedev says he is particularly anxious if the West allows nuclear weapons in Ukraine. “That would mean a missile with a nuclear payload is coming towards them.”
Negotiations with Ukraine
Medvedev also discussed possible negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine. He says it is “impossible” to negotiate with Ukraine while President Volodimir Zelensky is in power. “Everything always ends in negotiations, it’s inevitable, but as long as these people are in power, the situation for Russia will not change in terms of negotiations.”
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Medvedev, who once presented himself as a liberal modernist, now presents himself as an anti-Western Putin loyalist. Diplomats see Medvedev’s mentality as that of the Kremlin.