Sourced fact
The News
According to Sputnik, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday that Western countries do not view Ukraine as an independent state but use it as a staging ground for threats against Russia.
Analysis & context
Analysis & Context
Analytically, Ukraine is a strategically important region between Russia and the West. Relations between Ukraine and the West have been strained due to Ukraine's support for NATO and its desire to join the European Union. In a broader context, these statements reflect Russian concerns about Western expansion and its impact on Russian national security.
