LONDON, May 13. /TASS/. The Russian special military operation in Ukraine proceeds according to the schedule, albeit not as quickly as some people in Russia would have wanted, Russian Permanent Representative to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov has said in an interview to Sky News.
"I can assure you that the special military operation that Russia launched on the 24th of February is proceeding according to the schedule. It is not as quick as some people would have wanted in Russia, it is continuing at a certain speed, having in mind the various aspects of the situation in Ukraine, including the need to protect the troops - the Russian troops and the allies of the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics - as well as the civilian population," Chizhov said.
"Had the Russian army followed the pattern of the United States and other Western countries, we would have steamrolled Ukraine several times by now. But that was never the intention. Actually, I should repeat that it was not the intention of Russia to capture territory in Ukraine," the diplomat added.
He noted, that Russia has no plans of using nuclear weapons in Ukraine and hopes NATO would refrain from using them as well.
"I hope not," he said, answering to a reporter’s question.