Putin confidant Medvedev warns NATO of World War III: "Crimea is part of Russia forever"
Created: 06/28/2022, 17:40
By: Momir Takac
Vladimir Putin (r), President of Russia, and Dmitry Medvedev (l), Prime Minister of Russia, attend a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
© Pavel Golovkin/dpa
Ex-President Dmitry Medvedev has reaffirmed Russia's claim to Crimea and warned NATO of a Third World War in this context.
More than four months after the start of the Russian invasion of the neighboring country, there is still no sign of relaxation in the Ukraine war - on the contrary.
Russian forces intensify attacks in eastern Ukraine.
Fighting is raging mainly around Lysychansk, the last major city in Donbass under Ukrainian control.
Ukraine war: Medvedev warns NATO against contesting Crimea
According to the latest statements from a confidante of Russian President Vladimir Putin, it is unlikely that the Ukraine conflict will end anytime soon.
For example, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov again called for Ukraine's surrender.
Russia would immediately stop its offensive if the "Ukrainian soldiers lay down their arms" and Kyiv would comply with all demands, Peskov told journalists in Moscow on Tuesday.
The peace conditions include, among other things, that Ukraine recognizes Russian sovereignty over Crimea, which Moscow illegally annexed in 2014.
However, Kyiv categorically rejects this.
Ex-President Dmitry Medvedev has now reaffirmed Russia's claim to the Black Sea peninsula, adding fuel to the fire.
Ukraine war: Putin confidante Medvedev threatens NATO with third world war
“For us, Crimea is part of Russia.
And that's forever," Medvedev told the
Argumenty i Fakty
newspaper .
Any attempt to dispute Crimea with Russia is "a declaration of war on our country".
If a NATO member state took such a step, it would lead to a conflict against the entire North Atlantic Alliance, i.e. a third world war, a total disaster, added the current deputy chief of the Russian Security Council.
Medvedev also made it clear that if Sweden and Finland joined NATO, there would be "retaliatory measures".
Russia would have to strengthen its borders and the non-nuclear status of the Baltic Sea would be a thing of the past, warned Putin's confidante Medvedev, who recently clearly rejected disarmament talks.
(mt)