MOSCOW

The actions of the Russian army are the best response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's "ultimatums" regarding a return to the borders of 2022, said Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council.

Speaking at a meeting of the special group of the Military-Industrial Commission of the Russian Federation in Moscow, Medvedev, a former president, said Russia's opponents remain persistent in their efforts, continuing attacks and issuing demands.

"Not only do the attacks persist, but we also see various verbal provocations and ultimatums. Ukrainian politicians have now gone as far as demanding a 'return to the borders of 2022,' despite the constitution of our country. Clearly, the best response to such ultimatums is the actions of our armed forces and achieving victory," he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Moscow remains open to dialogue without preconditions, but any discussions must be based on the 2022 Istanbul agreements and reflect the realities on the ground.

Medvedev also addressed Kyiv's continued military actions within Russian territory, including strikes on civilian infrastructure, which he claimed are sometimes intended solely to "intimidate the population."

"The adversary persistently conducts military operations within our territory, aiming to reduce the potential of our armed forces and weaken the state’s economy. At times, these attacks seem designed simply to frighten people, as civilian infrastructure comes under fire," he said.

He acknowledged that these attacks, some of which penetrate over a thousand kilometers into Russian territory, cause significant damage to infrastructure, requiring extensive repair efforts. "There is no shortage of work in this area," Medvedev said.