Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council and leader of the
United Russia party, said on the 11th that Russia has no military objectives
against Europe and that European leaders’ claims Moscow plans to attack Europe
are a pretext to justify large aid to Ukraine. In a social-media video he said
the “Russia threat” narrative is being used to explain big expenditures for
Ukrainian support and to raise funds for the war. He added Russia’s leadership
has no plan for a new mobilization because contract recruitment has “reached or
even exceeded” early-September targets, and called reports of a fresh
mobilization “lies and provocations” intended to stir domestic sentiment ahead
of State Duma elections.
