Kremlin says operation must demilitarize Ukraine, purge it of ‘Nazis’

The Kremlin said on Thursday that the length of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine depended on how it progressed and on its aims, and that the assault should ideally cleanse the country of “Nazis” and “neutralize” Kyiv’s military potential.

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In a conference call with reporters, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that nobody was talking about occupying Ukraine and that it was “unacceptable” to use the word to describe in the context of Russia’s operation.

The Kremlin also said it was impossible to shut Russia off behind an iron curtain and that it needed Ukraine to become a neutral country where offensive weapons were not deployed.

When asked to assess the risk of Russia being put behind an iron curtain due to its actions in Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said:

“It’s simply impossible to cut off a country like Russia with an iron curtain.”

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