Kyiv's Actions Contributed to the Start of Military Operations, Zakharova

Kiev's failure to comply with the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership led to the decision to initiate a "Special Military Operation," said Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to RIA Novosti.

"For several years, the Ukrainian leadership has pursued a policy of gross and systematic violations of the treaty's provisions, which should be classified as a refusal to comply. This, in particular, later led to the decision by the Russian leadership to commence a special military operation," she stated.