It involves“withdrawal of the Ukrainian Armed Forces from four regions of Russia; confirmation of the status of Crimea, Sevastopol, [Donetsk People’s Republic], [Lugansk People’s Republic], Kherson and Zaporozhye regions as subjects of the Russian Federation; Kiev’s refusal to join NATO; Ukraine’s status as neutral, nonaligned and nuclear-free state; its demilitarization and denazification; lifting of Western sanctions; [and] ensuring the rights, freedoms and interests of Russian-speaking citizens of the republic,”the diplomatexplained. “Talks on the above-mentioned issues should be conducted without ‘imperial’ dictates and orders from the White House,”Antonov added.“It is high time the US recognized the futility of constant pursuit to enforce its will on all countries and realized that it will no longer be possible to deter the growing shift towards multipolarity.” Scary stories about Moscow plotting to attack NATO once Ukraine is defeated are simply“an embodiment of the US intentions to keep a tight rein on its satellites, primarily in Europe,”according to Antonov.“The aim is to finally turn the continent into the US ‘back yard’, which is not entitled to its own opinions nor its own history.” The purpose of the peace conference in Switzerland this weekend was“purely opportunistic: to create an illusion of widespread support for the ‘peace formula’ in various capitals, but in reality, to hush up any doubts about the legitimacy of the Kiev regime, which has already been bankrupt for a long time, both politically and economically,”the ambassador said.
