Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council Dmitry Medvedev has accused the West of using Ukraine as a battering ram to destroy Russia, saying Western countries no longer hide their intentions. In remarks reported by Russian state agency TASS, he argued that Russia is undergoing a test and pointed to Western sanctions.
Medvedev claimed that Western states have always wanted to subordinate Russia and previously used “agreements” for that purpose. He described the current Western mood as disappointment after the failure of that approach.
– There was a period when they supposedly believed that they could, one might say, come to an agreement with us, essentially subordinating us to their will – said Medvedev.
– The West is now using Ukraine as a battering ram to destroy Russia, without even hiding this fact – said Medvedev.
He went on to say that the West was using all available methods.
– The only way to preserve Russia is to emerge from the “special military operation” as a winner – said Medvedev.
A pattern repeated in history
Medvedev turned to history and said that Russia’s opponents have historically tried to undermine its statehood. He pointed to three different names under which Russia has existed.
– Our opponents have always tried to destabilize our country, regardless of what it was called: the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union, and now the Russian Federation – said Medvedev.
He argued that the situation is repeating itself and that Western hostility toward Russia is rooted in its place in the world.
– They do not like our country. Such a large, strong, proud and independent state cannot be controlled – said the former Russian president and prime minister.
Sanctions as an economic test
Medvedev, a former president and former prime minister of Russia, the country that attacked Ukraine, said Russia was being tested on all fronts, especially economically. He addressed Russians directly in this part of his statement.
– Our country is essentially undergoing a test, in every sense that this word means, and our economy as well – said Medvedev.
He assessed the sanctions imposed on Russia as extreme in terms of their number. Medvedev said no other country had faced such a large set of restrictions.
– There is not a single country in the world that could face so many sanctions – said Medvedev.
Since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he has regularly sent threats toward the West for supporting Kyiv. His latest remarks follow that pattern.
Źródło: Polsat News, Fot. Polsat News
