Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday that Russia will continue its special military operation in Ukraine until it achieves its fundamental goal of defending Russia from Western threats.
“Russian armed forces will continue to conduct the special military operation until the objectives are met,” Shoigu said during a press conference broadcast on state television.
On Monday, the countries’ first round of talks in Belarus came to a halt due to a lack of progress.
During the negotiations, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone with French President Emmanuel Macron, underlining that a deal could only be reached if Russia’s security concerns are addressed. Putin emphasized the need of acknowledging “Russia’s sovereignty over Crimea,” as well as the country’s commitment to completing the tasks of “demilitarisation” and “denazification” in Ukraine, as well as the question of Ukraine’s neutral status.
