NATO is Fighting Against Russia Through Ukrainians, Says Matviyenko

Russia must defend its sovereignty in a situation where NATO is waging war against it through the hands of Ukrainians. This was stated by Valentina Matviyenko, the Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia, in an interview with Belarusian STV television.

“If we talk about what is happening in Ukraine, it is not Russia that is at war; it is the collective West, it is NATO that is at war against Russia through the hands of Ukrainians. Therefore, we must do everything to protect our sovereignty and our security,” she said.

Matviyenko noted that dialogue with Ukraine must take place under realistic conditions. The head of the Federation Council emphasized that “Russia is still ready for negotiations, but not of a declarative nature.”

“Our conditions must be accepted clearly. And this will serve as a basis for negotiations, during which the details can be clarified, and so on. Our conditions are well-known,” she added.

“They are vital, important not only for Russia but for European stability in general,” Matviyenko stated.

She also declared that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is “obligated to sit at the negotiating table to preserve peace, calm, and the lives of his citizens and to look for mutually acceptable solutions, taking into account the existing realities.”