According to him, the “SVO” will continue until Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky “cannot muster the courage to make peace with the Russian Federation.”
Peskov said that Russia supposedly needs a sustainable peace, which can come when its interests are ensured. “This can be done literally today,” he added.
Putin’s press secretary also pointed out that the differences between Russia and Ukraine allegedly lie in “a few kilometers.” We are talking about 17–18% of the territory of the Donetsk region, which the Russian Federation plans to occupy in order to reach the administrative borders.
He added that Putin spoke about this more than a year ago.
Context
US Vice President J.D. Vance also stated on April 8 that peace negotiations in Ukraine are taking place around “several square kilometers” (“patch”) of territories in the Ukrainian Donbass.
In response, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky recalled on April 9 that Vance is not participating in the negotiations between the American side, Ukraine and Russia. “Where there are strong defensive structures, fortifications, where about 200 thousand people now live,” the head of state said. He noted that the Russian Federation, trying to gain Donbass without a fight, wants to prepare a springboard for further offensive actions.
