Sergei Shoigu believes that there can be no direct clash between Ukraine and Russia.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Photo: Sputnik

"We have common roots, over the centuries we have gone through the most difficult challenges together and side by side we defended freedom and independence during World War II," he said.

Even all my mother's relatives live in Ukraine, I was baptized in a small church in the mining town of Stakhanov, Lugansk region. Therefore, I am confident that in our common historical memory there will never be a place for mutual confrontation or hatred," the Minister added.