Russia has made the bold claim that the West has launched an “open war” against it, with the US and Eruope trying to “destroy” Vladimir Putin‘s country. Notorious propagandist Dmitry Medvedev accused the West of trying to “destabilise” the region, though maintained Moscow would not fight back. He said: “Let me remind you that our president has stated unequivocally: Russia is not going to fight NATO or ‘attack Europe’. Statements by Western politicians on this topic are complete nonsense.

“I will add that this nonsense is being deliberately thrown into the information field in order to destabilise an already difficult situation. This is another flank of the West’s open war against us.” Medvedev, who was Russian president between 2008 and 2012, alleged: “What is happening today is a proxy war, but in fact, a fully-fledged war — launches of Western missiles, information from satellites [supplied to Ukraine], sanctions packages, loud statements about the militarisation of Europe.”

He accused the US and Europe of an attempt to “destroy” Russia, which is “hated by the West”.

The Putin mouthpiece said Volodymyr Zelensky’s state must be subjected to “demilitarisation”, which he described as “not a punishment but a chance to stop being a pawn in someone else’s bloody geopolitical games”.

He also called for “denazification” and “democratisation” in not just elections, but through the restoration of legal institutions, free media, party competition, and the separation of powers.

Another leading propagandist, Col. Igor Korotchenko, added that Moscow must use the 50-day period before Donald Trump‘s sanctions to win the war.

He asked on Kremlin-funded state TV: “What can we do during these 50 days to persuade Ukraine to conclude a peace agreement on terms that meet the goals, principles and objectives of [Putin’s war]?

“We can launch massive strikes against Ukraine‘s critical infrastructure. I would like to emphasise once again that this primarily means power generation facilities.

“Any Russian frontline fighter jet, using new-generation low-profile Kh-69 cruise missiles, is capable of striking and accurately destroying any thermal power plant, oil refinery, or fuel depot in a first strike without attracting the attention of enemy intelligence.”

He made clear the aim was to make Ukraine so weak it is forced to sue for peace on Putin’s terms. Weakening the potential of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ rear support system will force Ukraine to accept Russia‘s terms”, he said.

“It is necessary to intensify Russian strikes…To the maximum extent possible…Scaling up this approach, we can achieve success.”