Russia will never recognize Ukraine as an "independent state," meaning there will "always be a reason to resume hostilities," even if a diplomatic solution is reached to end the war, Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, said in a social media post. Medvedev is considered to be a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"The existence of an independent state on historical Russian territories will always be a reason to resume hostilities," Medvedev wrote on his Telegram channel Wednesday, Russian news source Pravda reported.
"It's too late," he added in the post. "No matter who stands at the helm of the cancerous growth called Ukraine, it will not make their rule legitimate, nor will it make the "country" legally viable. Therefore, the likelihood of a new fight will persist indefinitely."
The statement led a source close to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to say that "the Putin regime doesn't recognize Ukraine's right to exist. These latest comments by a most senior Russian official make it clear that this will not change in our lifetimes. Clearly, Moscow is not interested in any real negotiations."
Medvedev said Ukraine is an "independent state on historic Russian territories," and that means a "100-percent degree of probability" that the conflict will continue between Ukraine and Russia even if Ukraine becomes a member of the European Union or NATO, or if Western countries sign documents to guarantee security for Ukraine.
"This may happen in ten or in fifty years," he said.
Medvedev further said that he believes Ukraine's very existence is "lethally dangerous" for people who live there, but he said most of the population will choose life other than "eternal war and inevitable death" by remaining in an independent state.
“The existence of Ukraine is mortally dangerous for Ukrainians, and I don't mean only the current state, the Bandera political regime," Medvedev said. "The presence of an independent state on historical Russian territories will now be a constant reason for the resumption of hostilities.
"They will understand that life in a large common state, which they do not like very much now, is better than death."
Medvedev further referred to Ukraine as an "artificial country" and that Russia will never consider it a legitimate nation.
Zelenskyy, while speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, has called for tougher sanctions against Russia. The forum's participants are calling for a diplomatic end to the war while expressing support for Ukraine and discussing reductions in foreign assistance.