Putin spokesman Peskov denies that Russia is waging war in Ukraine. At the same time, he admits that he has only "partially" achieved the goals. Who he blames for this.
Moscow – More than 14 months of war, about 200,000 of its own soldiers killed: this is Russia's record of the Ukraine war. Despite the bitter Russian losses in the war and the expected Ukrainian counteroffensive, Russia has achieved its goals in Ukraine – at least "partially". This was stated by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in an interview with Bosnian TV channel ATV on Wednesday (10 May 2023).
Protecting the people of Donbass was the most important task of the Russian armed forces. "To some extent, we managed to accomplish this task," Peskov claims. "To some extent, however, we are still a long way from that." The alleged protection of the population in the Donbas region has been a pretext for the invasion of Ukraine since the beginning of the war in February 2022, in which the civilian population has repeatedly been the target of Russian attacks.
Putin spokesman on Russia's attack on Ukraine: "Waging war is something else entirely"
Peskov also boasted, according to the independent English-language Moscow Times, that Russia had managed to "shake up the Ukrainian war machine quite a bit" and destroy "a lot of weapons factories".
In the interview, the Putin spokesman once again denied that Russia was waging war in Ukraine. "Waging war is something completely different, it means the total destruction of infrastructure, the total destruction of cities," Dmitry Peskov told ATV. "We don't do that." Russia is trying to avoid civilian casualties. This is one reason why not all goals have been achieved.
+Destroyed houses in the Bakhmut region: According to Putin spokesman Peskov, they should not exist, as Russia is trying to avoid civilian casualties.
© Valentin Sprinchak/Imago
Peskov thus represents the usual Russian narrative. However, the reality is different: Russia regularly attacks Ukrainian cities, targeting civilians and infrastructure. Energy supply in particular is repeatedly the target of Russian drones and missiles. Numerous cities such as Mariupol, Severodonetsk and Bakhmut now consist largely of ruins. In Bucha, a town near the Ukrainian city of Kyiv, Russian soldiers have executed hundreds of civilians.
Putin spokesman blames West for lack of war aims
Peskov cites Western support as another reason for delaying Russia's plans in Ukraine. "It was difficult to imagine that NATO members, the United States and European countries, would intervene in the conflict, first indirectly and then directly." Peskov also claimed that NATO is now indeed involved in the conflict on the side of Ukraine.
Ukraine war: The origins of the conflict with Russia
Ukraine war: The origins of the conflict with Russia
While Peskov relativizes the actions of his own military, he accuses Ukraine of being on a par with state sponsors of terrorism after the alleged drone attack on the Kremlin. "This is an outrageous and unacceptable terrorist activity of the country," Vladimir Putin's spokesman said, according to the Moscow Times.
Peskov did not comment in detail on the conflict with Wagner boss Prigozhin. He spoke only of "exuberant emotions". However, the Kremlin is allegedly thinking about sanctions. (ms/dpa)
Category list image: © Valentin Sprinchak/Imago