The West is trying to “divide” Russia and Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin said this in Sunday’s interview on Russian state television. He added that Russia is ready to negotiate with Kyiv, but the ball is in their court.
“Everything is based on the politics of our geopolitical opponents, and they are trying to divide Russia, historical Russia,” he said. However, Putin assured Moscow’s objective is “completely different: to unite the Russian people.” “I believe we have the right motives. Unfortunately, we have no choice but to protect our citizens and defend their interests.”
Russia is “ready to sit down with everyone involved,” Putin said. “I want to negotiate acceptable solutions, but all is up to them – we are not the ones declining to talk, they are,” the Russian president said on state television.
Putin also said he is “100 percent” sure that the Russian military will “destroy” the Patriot anti-aircraft system that the United States will supply to Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had spoken in similar terms earlier this week.
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky was pledged to the Patriots by his US counterpart Joe Biden during a Wednesday visit to the White House in Washington. In doing so, Washington continues its “de facto war” with Russia, Peskov noted.
