The Russian Federation intends to step up military and political pressure on Ukraine. This was stated by Dmitry Peskov, the Russian President’s press secretary, during a briefing on 2 July.
- Russia plans to step up military pressure on Ukraine.
- Peskov confirmed the Kremlin’s intention to respond to EU sanctions.
- European leaders have called for tougher sanctions against Russia.
- The Kremlin uses the term ‘Kyiv regime’ in its rhetoric.
- The leaders of the EU and the US support Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
The Kremlin is stepping up military pressure on Ukraine
The Russian Federation plans to step up military and political pressure on Ukraine in order to achieve its objectives. This was stated by the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation during a briefing on 2 July Dmitry Peskov, commenting on the latest statements by European leaders.
According to a Kremlin spokesperson, Russia will continue its military operations and “step up pressure on the Kyiv regime”. He described these actions as a response to the European Union’s plans to expand sanctions against the Russian military-industrial complex.
The context of the Kremlin’s statement
The Kremlin’s latest statement on the escalation came against the backdrop of a speech by the new head of European diplomacy, Kaia Kallas. The day before, she had called on EU countries to tighten economic sanctions against Moscow and to increase the scale of military aid to Ukraine in response to the massive missile strikes on Ukrainian cities.
In response, Peskov accused European countries of “militarisation” and of attempting to prolong the conflict. He confirmed that Russia has no intention of abandoning its original plans regarding Ukraine. However, the Kremlin once again failed to specify the exact list of its so-called “objectives”.
Information features
Russian officials traditionally use the term “Kyiv regime” in their statements instead of referring to Ukraine’s legitimate authorities. According to international analysts, such rhetoric from the Kremlin is a form of propaganda aimed at delegitimising the Ukrainian leadership and exerting psychological pressure on Ukraine’s Western partners in order to force them to make concessions.
At present, the leaders of the EU and the US are emphasising that their position remains unchanged regarding their support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and the continuation of sanctions against the aggressor.
