It is useless to speak with the aggressor only in the language of diplomacy, he must be called to account from a position of strength
Moscow. February 22. INTERFAX - Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev believes that Russia, after recognizing the DPR and the LPR, is ready for new sanctions, threats and political pressure.
"We know what will happen next. Again, sanctions, threats, political pressure from different sides. Insane screams and streams of disinformation. We have already been through all this and stopped being afraid a long time ago. We have strong nerves. Moreover, experience shows that sooner or later our current opponents will come to us with a request to return to the negotiating table on all issues. This is inevitable given Russia's role in international relations. And history will confirm our correctness," Medvedev told reporters on Tuesday.
He called the presidential decrees on Russia's recognition of the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics a difficult decision, but the only possible one. "The interests of the current Kiev authorities and their Western patrons are on the same scale. On the other - the safety of civilians, including almost 800 thousand citizens of Russia. Citizens living in another state, ready to commit any crimes against them. We had no right to abandon them," he said.
"This choice was already in front of us 14 years ago. In 2008, I had to make a difficult decision to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. By using military force and political will, Russia has helped save the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. And she taught an object lesson to NATO, the United States, and everyone who had aggressive intentions towards Russian citizens," Medvedev said.
"However, they learned it badly in NATO. And they continued to cynically and unceremoniously approach the borders of Russia, expanding the circle of potential members of the alliance. They helped official Kiev to sabotage the implementation of the Minsk agreements, completely freeing the hands of the nationalist-oriented elite of Ukraine and its weak government headed by the current president. The war against Donetsk and Lugansk went on without rules. People were subjected to constant repression. They shelled their houses, forced them to live in eternal fear, hide in basements from bombs," he said.
