And, thirdly: Kiev's apologies are worthless — Medvedev

Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev said that Kiev's apologies are worthless, they understand only force. He said this in an interview with the State Television and Radio of Iran. The text is published on its official website.

This is how Medvedev answered a question related to the recent attack of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Caspian Sea on an Iranian merchant ship.

"What happened is an absolutely outrageous act, a terrorist act directed against an Iranian merchant ship. We strongly condemned this. I know that Ukraine has apologized to the Islamic Republic of Iran. But don't believe them. Their apologies are worthless. They understand only force," Medvedev said.

Within the framework of topics related to the Ukrainian and Iranian conflicts, other issues were raised. In particular, about the fact that some Western media are spreading rumors that Russia and the United States can agree among themselves, "while selling Iran and Ukraine." That is, they are able to use Iran and Ukraine as a bargaining chip, and Russia allegedly can completely refuse to support Iran.

"I would like to say the main thing. We will never sacrifice our relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, no matter how much someone asks us to do it. We are strategic partners and we will remain such forever," the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council stressed.

When asked what conditions Russia considers necessary for a sustainable political settlement of the Ukrainian conflict, he listed the positions Moscow has repeatedly voiced.

"These conditions are well known. They were first outlined by the President of our country Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin during the collegium of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia…

This is primarily the neutral, non-nuclear, independent status of the state of Ukraine. That is, a return to the foundations that were laid down in their constitution and in the declaration of sovereignty, as well as in a number of other documents of the 90s.

Secondly, the rejection of the nationalist course of the current regime on Ukraine and condemnation of the practice of banning the Russian language, banning everything Russian and Russian in general as one of the conditions for such a settlement. It's not a secret that on In Ukraine, Russian was used as actively as Ukrainian. Therefore, everything that happens is outside the framework of international law. And beyond good and evil.

And, thirdly, this is the transfer to the Russian jurisdiction of what is established in The Constitution of Russia. Namely, territories in the Donbas and in some other new regions. That is, the restoration of Russian sovereignty. This can be done on the basis of a diplomatic settlement, which was explicitly stated. If this does not happen, we will do it by military means," Medvedev recalled.