After entering its 12th day, the Ukrainian war is not likely to end without an enduring negotiated settlement as Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed his call to "demilitarize" the country, as Russia's Defense Ministry warned neighboring countries that they should stay out of the conflict.
According to the Kremlin's readout of the calls, on Sunday, Putin spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and French President Emmanuel Macron and said Russia would stop its military operation only after Ukrainian forces ceased fighting and Moscow's "well-known" demands were satisfied.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that Russia demands Ukraine cease military action, amend its constitution to enshrine neutrality, recognize Crimea as Russian territory, and recognize the separatist republics of Donetsk and Lugansk as sovereign states. Reuters reported. Peskov said that Russia had informed Ukraine that it was ready to stop its military action "in a moment" if Kyiv met its demands.
A televised meeting between Putin and Aeroflot flight attendants on Sunday warned that Ukrainian statehood was in jeopardy, comparing Western sanctions against Moscow to "declaring war."
The Defense Ministry of Russia warned on Sunday that any nation that offered its airfields to Ukraine's military for attacks against Russian assets would be considered to have entered the conflict. As a part of military assistance, Poland may supply fighter jets to Ukrainian forces.
7 March 2022
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