Kremlin vows to fight 'with full force' until peace deal reached

Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Kremlin, said Sunday (local time) that Russian forces would fight with full force until a peace agreement with Ukraine is reached.

Speaking in an interview with Russian state broadcaster Vesti, Peskov said, "As President Vladimir Putin has said, we want peace and prefer to achieve it through peaceful means."

"But as long as that is impossible, we will fight, and we will fight with full force," he added. "Those who harbor plans to deliver a fatal blow to Russia will pay the price, just as Ukraine has."

Peskov acknowledged that "we are getting caught in a vicious cycle," but said that "in the absence of any possibility for discussion and negotiations, this is the only way to achieve our national interests."

He also warned about the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, which has faced mounting pressure from NATO member states in Europe. "This is Russian territory, and it has been made clear that if any threat is posed — as hardliners in countries like Poland suggest — Russia will deploy every available weapons system," Peskov said.