Medvedev, in response to Zelensky's promise to "return Crimea", called for the destruction of the "Kiev regime" President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said that during the counteroffensive, the Ukrainian Armed Forces plan to return Crimea to Kiev's control.
However, he stressed, the success of the enterprise depends on the number of weapons that Western countries will supply. In addition, the politician warned that the military conflict with the Russian Federation could drag on for "years and decades." Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev commented on Zelensky's speech.
During the counteroffensive, the Ukrainian Armed Forces intend to return Crimea to Kiev's control. This was stated by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky in an interview with the Finnish newspaper Yle .
In addition, he added, the success of Ukraine's new military campaign will largely depend on whether Western states will continue to supply weapons to Kiev.
At the same time, the Ukrainian president did not disclose any details or the expected date of the counterattack.
At the same time, Vladimir Zelensky said that the situation of the Winter War of 1939-1940. (between Finland and the USSR) cannot happen again - then Helsinki ceded part of the Finnish territory to Moscow under a peace agreement.
"I believe that such an opportunity should not be given," he stressed.
Zelensky pointed out that the Nordic countries "unlike some other partners, have not broken their promises" regarding the provision of military assistance to Kiev.
Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev believes that it is necessary to achieve the complete defeat of the regime in Kiev and acts of retaliation against its key figures. This is reported in the Telegram channel of the Russian politician.
According to him, the response to the actions of the Ukrainian authorities may include the elimination of personnel and military equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in an attempt to counterattack.
The Ukrainian leadership has recently repeatedly announced a large-scale counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but specific dates were not called.
"We are confident that the counteroffensive will take place in the near future. The United States absolutely supports us," Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal said on April 15.
He also stressed that "nothing will affect or change our plans for a counteroffensive," and the goal of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is still to reach the borders of 1991.
At the same time, on April 12, Shmygal said in an interview with the American portal The Hill that the APU offensive could begin "in the summer," and "Kiev's friends and partners are not in a hurry and realize" the importance of careful preparation.
At the same time, the Deputy Minister of Defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Anna Malyar, said that only an extremely narrow circle of people is privy to the operational plans of the Ukrainian army, and the risk of leaks is "minimal."
"They have a great plan, but only President [Vladimir] Zelensky and his leadership really know all the details of this plan," said US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
At the same time, the Ukrainian leadership continues to ask Western partners for even more weapons. "To prepare for a counteroffensive, we need more artillery, ammunition. We need more medium-range or medium- and long-range missiles, we need tanks and we will need fighters," Shmygal said.
At the same time, the American newspaper New York Times reported that the AFU is preparing 50 thousand military for a counteroffensive at the end of April. Military personnel for several brigades are trained by specialists from the United States and other NATO countries.
On April 14, Secretary of the National Security Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov said that Kiev would use any non-prohibited weapons to regain territories lost during the conflict with the Russian Federation, including Crimea.
Danilov also called the return of Ukraine to the borders of 30 years ago the main condition for the end of hostilities.
The Russian authorities have repeatedly stated that the issue of Crimea's ownership is "finally closed."
Peter Nikolaev
