Reznikov explains to the West that the European part of Russia must be demilitarised for security reasons

DENYS KARLOVSKYI — SUNDAY, 26 JUNE 2022, 19:51

Oleksii Reznikov, the Minister of Defence of Ukraine, believes that the only way to resume dialogue between the West and Russia may be the demilitarisation of the European part of the aggressor state.

Source: Reznikov's Facebook page

Details: Reznikov explained that the Russians’ most recent missile strikes on Ukrainian cities were carried out from the Caspian and Black Seas and the airspace of Belarus, which is pretending not to be a party in the military conflict. According to Reznikov, this is a strategic threat to the security of the entire European continent.

Therefore, Western partners’ rapid response should be to provide Ukraine with modern air and missile defence systems. According to Reznikov, this will create an additional security border of 500-1,000 km for other NATO countries.

In addition, according to the Minister, the sanctions regime must be tightened up so that Russia does not have the opportunity to produce high-tech weapons, including cruise missiles. Reznikov added that many of the components in Russian missiles are manufactured in NATO member states.

Separately, he outlined his vision of long-term measures to ensure peace on the continent.

Quote from Reznikov: "The long-term answer is just as obvious - the condition for dialogue on restoring relations between the civilised world and Russia should be the demilitarisation of at least the European part of the terrorist state. The depth and parameters of demilitarisation should be determined by experts."

Background:

• At about 06:30, the Russian occupiers struck a residential building and a kindergarten in the Shevchenkivskyi district of the capital. One missile was shot down in the sky over Kyiv Oblast.
• Rescue workers at the scene pulled an unconscious seven-year-old girl out from under the rubble, and then her mother, who was covered with a concrete slab. The girl’s father died. Vitalii Klychko, the mayor of Kyiv, said at about 16:00 that the number of injured had risen to 6 and confirmed the death of the woman's husband.
• At about 11:30, the Russians launched missile strikes on Cherkasy and Chernihiv Oblasts. An infrastructure facility near Cherkasy was damaged, one person was killed and five others were injured.
• Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, addressed Western countries harshly, saying that [Ukraine] needs more weapons and tougher sanctions to put an end to Russia’s war crimes.

Western politicians, including US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, have reacted to the rocket attacks on Kyiv, calling them "barbarism" and "a deliberate escalation" as the G7 met for their summit in Germany.