Kremlin denies claims that CIA chief offered Russia 20% of Ukraine
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The Kremlin Spokesperson says Crimea's security is fully guaranteed and Russia is working to secure the Donbass.
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Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov (AP)
Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denied on Friday media reports claiming that the CIA Director made a trip to Moscow to offer 20% of Ukraine to Russia.
"This is hoax," he told reporters.
Earlier this week, Swiss German newspaper Neue Zurcher Zeitung said, citing German foreign affairs politicians, that Burns visited Moscow in mid-January and proposed a peace plan which includes giving up 20% of Ukraine's territory - almost the size of the Donbass - to Russia in exchange of ending the war.
Read more: War in Ukraine: A conflict that will decide the global system's fate
However, the report added, that both Moscow and Kiev rejected the proposal.
On another note, Peskov said Russia's operation will continue as the Donbass is not fully secure, adding that Crimea is fully protected.
His comments came in response to a statement made by Ukraine's acting Interior Minister Ihor Klimenko saying that Kiev is preparing a formation of military, police, and border guards to take Crimea and Donbass.
"Donbass is not fully protected yet, and therefore the special military operation continues. We have to protect the people who live there. Currently, this goal is not fully achieved. This is yet to be done. Crimea, like Donbas, is Russia's region, therefore, the security of Crimea is fully guaranteed," he said.
Russia interested in advancing relations with Serbia
The official said Russia values its relations with Serbia, adding that Moscow hopes bilateral relations will continue to develop.
On Thursday, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that he did not know how much longer the country's authorities will be able to withstand without imposing sanctions on Russia, but they will try to resist this for as long as possible.
"We value our relations with Serbia. They have deep historical roots, Serbia has a very substantial current moment in history, and we are sure that they have very great prospects in the future... We hope that bilateral relations will continue to develop in a positive way," the Kremlin Spokesperson said, adding that Russia is aware of western massive pressures on Belgrade regarding its relations with Moscow.
Read more: Washington, not Kiev, has final say in resolving Ukraine issue: Peskov
On January 28, Russia’s Ambassador to Belgrade Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko reiterated that the West is blackmailing Serbia to join the EU in imposing sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine, at a time when Serbia has refused to join the draconian sanctions on Moscow.
The official highlighted then that the EU is attempting to pull Serbia to its side in the matter of interaction with Russia, or punishing Belgrade for refusing to do so.
