Russia is “in a state of war” with Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged this Friday, insisting on calling the attack on the neighboring country a “special operation” and rejecting the use of the word “war.”
“We are in a state of war. Yes, it started as a special military operation, but as soon as this whole bunch was formed, when the collective West participated in all this on the side of Ukraine, it became a war for us. I am convinced of this, and I must understand this everyone,” Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with the government weekly Arguments and Facts.
“I am convinced of this, and everyone must understand this in order to make a commitment,” he added, referring to the military mobilization and “mobilization of the spirit” being carried out in Russia.
In this interview, Peskov also recalled the Kremlin’s goal to completely conquer four Ukrainian regions (Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporozhye), which Moscow has declared annexed territory since September 2022.
“De jure this is a special operation, but in fact it turned into a war,” added Dmitry Peskov.
Over the past two years, the Kremlin has tightened its use of the word “war” with fines and prison sentences, introducing the official euphemism “special military operation.”
During the two years of conflict, several senior officials used the word “war” in public statements, but always in reference to the war the West was waging against Russia through Ukraine, not in reference to a Russian attack.
Answering a question about the fate of people convicted of using the word “war,” Peskov suggested that this does not mean that the use of the term “in a critical context” is permitted.
“The word ‘war’ is used in different contexts. Compare my context with the context of the (convicted) cases in which it is mentioned,” he said.
However, on social media, Russian analyst Tatyana Stanovaya, quoted by Agence France-Presse, said the Kremlin’s official use of the term illustrates the crossing of a “psychological boundary” between the political elite and citizens.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was recently re-elected with 87% of the vote in an unopposed presidential election, has vowed to lead the country to victory over Kiev and the West in what he sees as a confrontation over Russia’s “existence.” .
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
I am Michael Melvin, an experienced news writer with a passion for uncovering stories and bringing them to the public. I have been working in the news industry for over five years now, and my work has been published on multiple websites. As an author at 24 News Reporters, I cover world section of current events stories that are both informative and captivating to read.