Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting in Moscow. Photo: AFP / VNA Speaking at a joint press conference with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Moscow on April 22, Putin said that the Kiev government has taken steps to destroy bilateral relations with Moscow over the past time. Prominent among them was the intention of Ukraine to restrict the Russian language, destroying Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine. “There are many steps to breaking the relationship, which we regret. But if President Zelensky wants to restore relations, we will respond, “Putin said about the prospect of a meeting between the two leaders in Donbass. But according to the Russian President, if it is to discuss the situation in Donbass, the Kyiv government first needs to open meetings with the leaders of the Donetsk Republic and self-proclaimed Lugansk, and then consider direct contact with the party. Tuesday. If it wants to talk about Russia-Ukraine relations, the Russian side is ready to welcome Zelensky in Moscow at any convenient time for the President of Ukraine. Earlier, speaking on April 20, Mr. Zelensky proposed his readiness to meet President Putin in Donbass, amid the outbreak of fighting between Ukrainian soldiers and independence forces in the East.

RIA quoted Peskov as saying: “On the territory of Ukraine, reducing the escalation of tensions in Donbass can only be achieved if the Ukrainian Armed Forces stop military provocations”.

It is known that on April 13, US President Joe Biden had a phone call to Russian President Vladimir Putin. During the conversation, Mr. Biden especially expressed concern about the Russian military’s increased military presence in Crimea and on the border with Ukraine.

The Kremlin cites conditions for de-escalation of tensions in Donbass. Photo: RIA

President Biden stressed the US’s unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Besides, President Biden has proposed to his Putin counterpart to hold a summit in a third country in the near future.

Concerning developments, in the last weeks of March, parties to the conflict in Ukraine accused each other of violating the ceasefire and transferring military equipment to the communication line.

“The Kremlin is concerned that a civil war will continue in Ukraine. If civil war and large-scale hostilities continue near our borders, it would pose a threat to Russia’s security, ”Peskov said.

Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, when referring to the issue of “pulling troops” to the Ukrainian border, he stressed that Russia is operating on its own territory and that these military measures are necessary, and do not disturb foreign partners.

Specifically, over the past several months, representatives of the US administration led by President Joe Biden have repeatedly threatened Russia that it will pay a “very high price” for the situation in the Donbass.

Moscow responded to Washington on warning of ‘it will cost money for the Donbass’. Illustrative image / Reporter

Before the above developments, Moscow gave an official response. Specifically, according to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, Washington’s aforementioned statements are unacceptable. Russia will continue to defend the self-proclaimed republics of the Donbass, as well as the interests of its Russian-speaking residents, and threats from the other hemisphere of the planet will only convince Moscow of the correctness of the planet. my movement.

“They talked about a high price, but they never specified. What they have done so far, first we have done enough research, second we have adapted to this” …

Ryabkov noted with regret that the current Ukrainian authorities and their Western patrons have concluded that the field situation is not helping to become more positive.

In addition, Deputy Minister Ryabkov mentioned the fact that the military alliance of NATO, the United States and a number of other countries are deliberately promoting Kiev to confront the Russian Federation, assisting Ukraine in increasing military pressure. declaration in the East.

In related developments, the NATO Air Force has deployed more fighter jets to countries close to Ukraine as a readiness move for the worst case scenario.