Destruction of Ukrainian statehood and independence: in ISW specified whole wars of the Russian Federation
Medvedev stated that "the presence of an independent state in historical Russian territories" would be a permanent reason for the restoration of hostilities, and the existence of Ukraine as an independent country is allegedly dangerous for the Ukrainians themselves. About it writes "Institute of War Study" in the summary of January 17.
According to Medvedev, an independent Ukraine will never be a legitimate state, regardless of who will head the government, and that the future conflict for the territory of Ukraine is inevitable - it may be a new military conflict or continuation of the current Russian war.
ISW analysts call Medvedev's statement made on January 17, one of many recent signals of high -ranking Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, that the Kremlin is not interested in negotiations with Ukraine and that Putin's goals in Ukraine remain unchanged. Medvedev did not specify that he considers historical Russian territories. Putin, for his part, defines historical Russian lands as the territory of the former Russian Empire and the Soviet Union.
Medvedev could do this intentionally, as such a broad concept of "historical lands" enables the Kremlin to pursue expansionist goals where it is needed: in Central Asia, in some parts of Eastern Europe and the Caucasus. The emphasis of Medvedev on the destruction of any Ukrainian state in these "historical Russian territories" may be evidence that for some Kremlin representatives between expansionist goals and a change in the regime, calling for "denacification" of Ukraine prefer the first.