The Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation does not believe in a war with Ukraine, but is ready for it
Moscow - Kyiv, April 22 (Navigator - Mikhail Stamm) - Contacts between the Russian and Ukrainian military are reduced to a minimum, said Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Anatoly Antonov in an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta. Nevertheless, he himself calls his Ukrainian colleagues every day.
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“I don’t believe that the Russians will fight with the Ukrainians, but we will not allow any negative surprises regarding the security of Russia,” the Russian general told the newspaper.
“There are contacts with the Ukrainian military, in particular, on the issues of transferring to them weapons left in Crimea,” he explained. “We are also solving the problem of returning home residents of the peninsula called up to serve in the Ukrainian army. Representatives of the Ukrainian armed forces are in Crimea for this purpose.”
“Of course, such contacts are kept to a minimum,” Antonov clarified. – But if a specific issue needs to be resolved, then this issue is resolved. If there is a need for a telephone conversation, then we will call you. Personally, I have conversations like this almost every day.”
The Russian Deputy Minister of Defense does not believe in war with Ukraine, but is ready for it.