NATO country flagsWASHINGTON, Apr 7 continue to build relations with Russia against the backdrop of the situation around Ukraine, according to the New York Times, citing sources. According to two senior officials, Poland and the Baltic states are in favor of a complete severance of relations with Moscow and for «efforts that will bring Russia to its knees.» At the same time, France, Germany and Turkey believe that contacts should be maintained. Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24. President Vladimir Putin called its goal «the protection of people who have been subjected to abuse and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years.» To this end, according to him, it is planned to carry out «demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine» bloody crimes against civilians» of Donbass. According to the Ministry of Defense, the Armed Forces strike only at military infrastructure and Ukrainian troops and, on March 25, they completed the main tasks of the first stage — they significantly reduced the combat potential of Ukraine. The main goal in the Russian military department was called the liberation of Donbass.
