ISTANBUL

Russia’s former President Dmitry Medvedev claimed on Wednesday that the existence of Ukraine is “mortally dangerous” for the Ukrainian people.

“The existence of Ukraine is mortally dangerous for Ukrainians. And I don’t mean only the current state … I'm talking about any, absolutely any Ukraine,” Medvedev, who currently serves as the deputy head of the Russian Security Council, wrote on Telegram.

Medvedev said the presence of an independent state on what he described as “historical Russian territories” will be a constant reason for hostility.

He argued that there is a "100% probability” of a new conflict, regardless of any security guarantees signed between Ukraine and the West.

“Neither Ukraine’s association with the EU, nor even the entry of this artificial country into NATO will prevent it,” Medvedev said, adding that such a conflict could happen in 10 or 15 years.​​​​​​​

Russia launched its "special military operation" in Ukraine nearly two years ago to "demilitarize" and "denazify" the former Soviet republic. The West, however, terms it aggression and has supported Kyiv through humanitarian, economic and military means.

That support, however, is said to be waning amid changing Western political dynamics and a global focus on the Israeli-Hamas war.