Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev delivered a worrying speech on Monday, claiming that “Ukraine is definitely Russia” and unveiling a new map that redraws the borders to reflect his vision of a territorially expanded Russia.
Medvedev’s controversial statements and actions have raised concerns internationally, particularly with regard to the sovereignty of Ukraine and the potential implications for neighbouring NATO allies.
“Our geostrategic space has been indivisible since the time of the ancient Russian state,” Medvedev said during his speech, presenting a map that depicted the vast majority of Ukraine’s territory incorporated into Russia.
“This concept must disappear forever. Ukraine is definitely Russia,” he emphasised, dismissing the internationally recognised borders of Ukraine.
Medvedev’s map didn’t stop at Ukraine, as it also showed altered borders for other countries, including Poland and Romania. This aggressive move has heightened tensions in the region, with international leaders expressing deep concern over the potential consequences of Russia’s expansionist ambitions.
The Russian official’s rhetoric mirrors his previous comments, where he has consistently questioned Ukraine’s right to exist, labelling it as a “misconception” stemming from the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
He argued: “Historic parts of the country need to come home. All our adversaries need to understand once and for all a simple fact: that the territories on both banks of the Dnipro River are an integral part of Russia’s strategic and historical borders.”
Medvedev’s comments came as the director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi, announced on Monday that he is scheduled to embark on a high-level trip to Moscow to discuss nuclear safety in Ukraine.
“The situation continues to be very fragile,” Grossi told reporters during the agency’s 35-nation board of governors meeting in Vienna. He highlighted the importance of addressing the safety concerns at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southeastern Ukraine, Europe’s largest nuclear facility, stressing that it is “of tremendous importance in terms of international peace and security.”
Grossi expressed his intention to personally meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Moscow, though the Kremlin has not yet confirmed the meeting.
This diplomatic effort reflects the urgency surrounding the potential nuclear threat in Ukraine and the necessity for international cooperation to ensure the safety of such critical facilities.
