Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev told Kremlin-controlled propaganda agency RIA Novosty that “Ukraine is a part of Russia” and repeated lies that “the territory of Ukraine…always belonged to the Russian empire” and “was initially inhabited by a native Russian population.” He “said that he had the impression that Western countries did not believe and did not see the ‘degree of determination’ of Russia to start a war in Ukraine, and therefore they ‘miscalculated.’” Medvedev continued to admit that past Russian “negotiations” were cynical pretext: “it's pointless to negotiate with some countries, blocs, communities of countries – they understand only the language of force. Only the language of force!" 54Associated PressRussia declares Transparency International "undesirable"Associated PressMarch 6, 2023March 6, 2023https://apnews.com/article/russia-kremlin-crackdown-dissent-corruption-bf55b9d396081a449fef45b31863e07cThe Russian government pressed its crackdown against critical voices on Monday by branding the global anti-corruption group Transparency International as “undesirable,” effectively banning it from operating in the country. The Russian prosecutor's office charged that while “formally acting as an organization fighting corruption around the world, it interferes in the internal affairs of the Russian Federation, which poses a threat to the foundations of the constitutional order and the security of the Russian Federation.” [Russian] authorities have methodically targeted people and organizations critical of the Kremlin, branding many as “foreign agents" and declaring some as “undesirable.”