​​​​​​​MOSCOW

The Russian "special military operation" in Ukraine will end as soon as Moscow achieves its goals, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday.

"Any war ends in peace one way or another," Peskov said. "For us, there is absolutely no alternative to achieving our goals. As soon as these goals are achieved in one way or another, the special military operation will be completed," he said.

Peskov was responding to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy who told American media that the end of the conflict was "closer than many believe," as he offered his plan as "a way to resolve the situation."

Moscow has repeatedly criticized the "formula" promoted by Kyiv as "unrealistic" and pointed out the need to take into account the realities on Earth.

Russia supported a peace plan by China and Brazil, which, in turn, Ukraine considers as "unrealistic" and criticized for not conforming to Zelenskyy's initiative.

Russian President Vladimir Putin listed the goals of Moscow’s "special military operation," including the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, its neutral status and the recognition of Russia's territorial gains in the war.

Asked about the hearing by the Hague Arbitration Court on the case against Russia on the alleged illegal construction of the Crimean Bridge, Peskov said: "Here I would absolutely refrain from any comments. Our position on the entire infrastructure of the Russian Federation is absolutely clear, and this position is absolutely prevailing for us."

Kyiv accuses Moscow of violating Ukraine's sovereign rights under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea by building the bridge in a case filed Sept. 16, 2016.