Photo: Natalya Muschinkina
Federation President Rada Valentina Matvienko said Russia could quickly complete a special operation in Ukraine, but the consequences could be serious.
“There would be civilian casualties,” Matvienko said. “We cannot afford it, it is not our task.”
According to her, the main goal of the operation was to destroy weapons and reach an agreement on Ukraine's non-block and non-nuclear status. She added that “an agreement was practically ready”, which she said was “suitable for Ukraine and Russia”. At the time, the speaker said Russia had withdrawn its troops from Kiev.
Matvienko also said that Russia was ready for peace talks with Ukraine.