The Kremlin has demanded the “complete and unconditional surrender” of Ukraine – with Vladimir Putin sidekick Dmitry Medvedev insisting the country’s territory belongs, lock, stock and barrel, to Russia.
Medvedev, known in recent years for his incendiary remarks, also lashed out at the West in a bizarre rant in which he suggested the Ukrainian government – led by Volodymyr Zelensky, who is Jewish – was dominated by Nazis.
Medvedev – whose diatribes, observers have suggested, may be fuelled by alcohol, also denounced Swiss and other attempts to find a solution, and also raged against Volodymyr Zelensky’s peace plan.
He said: “Everyone understands perfectly well, including the out-of-touch Western liars, that even in much simpler situations during war, peace can be achieved either with the mutual will of the parties on the basis of a reasonable compromise, or through the surrender of one of the parties to the conflict.
“The will of the so-called former Ukraine to negotiate is not visible.”
Instead he suggested his “calm and quite realistic”. Which was “humane for everyone”.
His blueprint also envisaged the international community recognising the “Nazi character” of the Kyiv government, and agreement by the UN to Ukraine being subsumed into Russia.
There would be “payment of all required compensation to Russia, including payments to the relatives of the dead citizens of our country and payments for harm to the health of the wounded”.
An interim parliament should then recognise “that Ukraine’s entire territory is the territory of the Russian Federation,” demanded Medvedev, deputy head of the Kremlin’s security council as well as a former Russian President himself.
Medvedev’s demands come after an extraordinary report saying that his deranged anti-Western posts often follow deliveries of wine from his secret Italian vineyard, which has not been sanctioned by the EU.
The Insider independent media’s report was headlined – ‘Tipsy Telegram: Medvedev’s scandalous posts coincide with wine deliveries from Italy’.
Medvedev, 58, has become notorious for threatening nuclear war unless NATO countries bow to the Russian dictator’s demands.
Separately Putin today urged Russians to vote in an election described as a farce by opposition leaders.
He issued a TV call to Russians claiming the election showed his country was a “democratic state” and “the only source of power in our country is the people” – when he has accrued total control in his own hands.
This follows the suspected murder in jail of Alexei Navalny, who – had he not been jailed on bogus charges – would likely have fought Putin in the poll.
He said: “Tomorrow, March 15, polling stations will open across our vast country.
“Three-day voting for the presidential elections of Russia will begin.
“They are taking place in Russia for the eighth time, which demonstrates the steadfastness of one of the main principles of a democratic state – the regularity of elections.
“Their outcome will directly influence the country’s development in the coming years. As the acting head of state, I consider it necessary to address you today.
“I emphasise that the only source of power in our country is the people. Our fighters on the front lines will also vote.
“Showing courage and heroism, they defend the Motherland and by participating in the elections, they set an example for all of us.
“Each of your votes is valuable and significant. Therefore, I urge you to exercise your right to vote in the next three days.”
