Moscow: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia's 'special military operation' in Ukraine has transformed into a 'full-scale war' due to the direct involvement of Western countries.

According to Anadolu Agency, Peskov, during an interview with Swiss magazine Die Weltwoche, criticized European governments for what he termed as a strategic miscalculation in assuming Russia could be defeated. He warned that the continuous military support for Ukraine from the West risks prolonging the conflict instead of facilitating peace.

Peskov highlighted the extensive military aid supplied to Ukraine by European countries and the United States, describing the situation as evolving beyond an operation into a full-scale war. He further accused the European Union of shifting from an economic entity to a military one, prompting Russia to consider additional measures to safeguard its national security.

Peskov ruled out the initiation of a third world war by Russia, emphasizing the country's commitment to ensuring its security without being the aggressor. He reiterated that Russia's nuclear doctrine remains unchanged and that nuclear weapons would only be deployed if the existence of the Russian state was threatened.

Discussing battlefield progress, Peskov mentioned that Russia would continue its military operations while establishing a security buffer along its border. He indicated that the expansion of this buffer zone would be proportional to the perceived threats from Ukraine, particularly in response to any strikes on Russian territory.