MOSCOW. March 29 (Interfax) - The goals of the special military operation in Ukraine will be achieved by military means, because it is unrealistic to do so through political and diplomatic methods due to Ukraine's stance, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said.
"We have said many times that the goals of the Russian Federation will be achieved by various methods - political and diplomatic ones, or, if it is currently impossible to do so by political and diplomatic methods, and they are impossible in the case of Ukraine, then to our regret, through military methods, which means by carrying out the special military operation," Peskov told reporters on Wednesday when asked whether Russia has moved closer to achieving the goals of the special military operation in Ukraine.
"The most important issue for Russia is to ensure that its demands are fulfilled, and that the security of the population in the new Russian regions and the security of the Russian Federation as a whole, in a broader context, is ensured," he said.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said earlier that a cessation of fighting by Ukraine and of Western countries' weapons supplies to Kiev would be a prerequisite for a just and lasting peace in the country.
"We believe that it is possible to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine and Europe if Ukrainian armed formations cease fighting, if deliveries of weapons from Western countries stop, and if foreign mercenaries are withdrawn," Galuzin said in an interview with RTVI.
"There is the need for Ukraine's neutral and non-bloc status, Kiev needs to abandon plans to join NATO and the EU and confirm the non-nuclear status of Ukraine, and Kiev and the international community need to recognize the new territorial realities," he said.
Furthermore, "a mandatory condition is the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, protection of the rights of Russian-speaking citizens, the Russian language and national minorities, unhindered cross-border traffic with Russia, the lifting of anti-Russian sanctions by Ukraine and the West, withdrawing lawsuits, and ceasing any prosecutions in relation to Russia, its citizens and legal entities," Galuzin said.