The speaker of the lower house of Russia's parliament told members in a plenary session on Tuesday that Ukraine had become a "terrorist state," according to remarks posted on the State Duma's website.
“We do not keep silent. We are doing everything to address issues related to ensuring the safety of our citizens. Ukraine has turned into a terrorist state," Vyacheslav Volodin, State Duma Speaker said at a plenary session according to Duma's website.
"Ukraine has turned into a terrorist state"
Vyacheslav Volodin
Volodin was quoted as saying that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is the head of a "criminal regime," saying that Russian forces must do everything to complete the operation.
The chairman moved on and caliming Ukraine sees its citizens as "expendables," blaming them for prolonging the war with each weapon shipment received from the west.
Russian officials have since the beginning of Moscow's "special military operation" in Ukraine sought to paint their neighbor as being controlled by anti-Russian fascists and "neo-Nazis," but have not pushed the idea that it is a terrorist state.
Most recently Zelensky called for official recognition of Russia as a "terrorist state" in a meeting with a US state senator on May 14.
Ukraine and the West say the claim is baseless propaganda, used to justify a land grab.