Ukraine-Russia crisis, the Russian president Vladimir Putin has recognized the pro-Russian republics of Donbass, Lugansk and Donetsk. Putin then asked Kiev to cease hostilities in eastern Donbass “immediately” or “the responsibility will fall on the country’s leadership”.
“The situation in Donbass has become extremely critical. I am addressing you to inform you what the next actions will be in this situation. Ukraine is an integral part of our history, of our culture. There are very strong family and historical ties. Ukrainians themselves see themselves as part of Russiawe have always been united “, said the Russian president opening the speech to the nation after the recognition.” It is important to understand what is happening today and what are the goals we have set “, says the president, on the crucial day of the crisis between Russia and Ukraine, retracing milestones and key moments in history starting from the Revolution of 1917, passing through the Second World War. From the decisions of Lenin first and then Stalin, Putin hints at the knots of Soviet history. “Sovereign Ukraine was created by Lenin, he was the architect, “Putin says.” We we are ready to show you what it means to completely liberate Ukraine“.
“We helped Ukraine pay its debtswe were ready to take on all debts in 2017. Ukraine he would have had to give up some assets, Kiev did not want to ratify these agreements. Russia has always been ready to cooperate, we have cooperated on the ground. It seemed that the Ukrainian authorities had decided to act to obtain advantages without taking responsibility. We recall the permanent threats from the Ukrainian authorities in the field of energythey were looking for a fast track “, continues Putin, while the Ukrainian authorities” continue to blackmail us “.
“Kiev refused to recognize our historical ties and the traditions of the Russians living in Ukraine, a wave of nationalism has built up in the country with claims against Russia. It is important to understand – continues the Russian president – that Ukraine has never had a tradition consistent “with the identity” of a nation, it has done nothing but follow foreign models without defending the interests of citizens. In Ukraine, the authorities took power only on the basis of populist ideas: then, they have always taken a step backwards from the promises made to the population. Those who came to power only made their own interests: Ukrainians can’t say they lived in a stable nation, they were ruled by oligarchs focused on their interests and interested in dividing Ukraine from Russia, receiving support from the United States. Millions of dollars ended up in the current accounts of the oligarchs, the citizens continued to suffer “, says the Russian president.
“The legacy left by the Russian Empire has been totally trampled. Kiev is preparing to destroy Russian churches, Russia has become a common target of a campaign in which religion is also involved. Ukraine is trying to come into conflict with us, there are terrorists in the country who are supported and encouraged by the international community. We have heard – urges Putin – declarations that Ukraine intends to create its own nuclear weapons, it is only a matter of time. In other words, it will be easier for Ukraine to use the fear generated by nuclear weapons to fuel tension. If Kiev were to get hold of weapons of mass destruction, the world situation would change dramatically. Over the past few months, Western weapons have arrived in Ukraine in a steady stream. NATO military quotas have been sent to the country, NATO headquarters directly commands military personnel who are on Ukrainian soil. In the west of the country there are military exercises, clearly the goal is to hit Russia. At least 10 of these exercises are underway, NATO contingents could grow rapidly “, continues Putin.
“The American government – he adds – has not ruled out the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO. There will come a time when this will happen and NATO will no longer be just a defensive alliance. In 1990, according to an official NATO document, it was said that the alliance would not expand to the East: empty words, exactly the opposite happened. In 1999, Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic were included. Then another opening towards the Baltic Republics. Military infrastructures have arrived at the gates of Russia, with negative effects on the entire European security architecture: it was a strategic mistake “, says Putin, referring to the NATO issue and expanding the discourse to include US missiles” capable of striking anywhere. even underwater “.
“In some official documents it is written that Russia is the number 1 enemy of the Atlantic alliance. Many did not believe it, now obviously we have to believe it “, he continues.” NATO’s offensive capacity has increased enormously, with a deployment of forces around Russiawith a series of infrastructures in Ukraine “, he reiterates.”If this is the way they want to act on Ukrainian territory, then we are the target. The missiles would take 30 seconds to hit Moscow“, argues Putin.
At the end of his long address to the nation, the president then signed the recognition decree of the two self-proclaimed republics. The signing took place in the presence of the two separatist leaders, Denis Pushilin and Leonid Pasechnik. “I believe it is necessary to take a decision that should have been taken some time ago, to immediately recognize the sovereignty and independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics,” Putin said as he signed the decree.
ZELENSKY HEARS BIDEN
“I have discussed the events of the last few hours with the president of the United States.” Ukrainian President Volodimyr Zelensky reports this in a tweet, announcing the start of a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council. Zelensky also reports that he is also planning a meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
DISAPPOINTMENT OF MACRON AND SCHOLZ, THE UKRAINIAN MINISTER’S TWEET
Before the announcement, Putin phoned French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to inform them of the decision to sign the decree on the recognition of the republics of Donetsk and Luhansk. I announce the Kremlin. Informed of the president’s decision to “sign shortly” the decree for recognition, Macron and Scholz “expressed disappointment at this development”the Kremlin reported.
“Vladimir Putin informed them of the results of the enlarged meeting of the Russian Security Council, which assessed the current situation on Donbass, in the context of the Duma’s decision on the recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk”, after the appeals of the leaders of the two republics “in connection with the military aggression of the Ukrainian authorities, the massive bombing of the Donbass, as a result of which the civilian population is suffering”, the Kremlin reported. Which then made the point of the “expressed disappointment” of the French president and the German chancellor, who in any case indicated “their willingness to continue contacts”.
“Not only Ukraine, but the whole world is closely following Russian actions with respect to the recognition” of the self-proclaimed republics. “Everyone realizes the consequences. There is a lot of excitement, but it is right now that we all need to calmly focus on de-escalation efforts. There is no other way. ”She said it on Twitter Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
EU: “AGREEMENTS VIOLATED, WE WILL REACT TOGETHER”. BORRELL: “ANY AGGRESSION WILL HAVE A STRONG RESPONSE”
“The recognition of the two separatist territories in Ukraine is a blatant violation of international law, the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the Minsk agreements. The EU and its partners will react with unity, firmness and determination in solidarity with Ukraine” . So on twitter the president of the European Council Charles Michel and the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
“Any aggression against Ukraine will have a strong response from the EU. This also applies to Belarus, should an attack be carried out from its territory or with its involvement.” This was underlined by the High Representative of the EU Josep Borrell, at a press conference in Brussels at the end of the Foreign Affairs Council.
“Belarus – continues Borrell – has been dragged into this crisis: it is losing its sovereignty, with a non-transparent deployment of Russian forces. Belarus is losing its nuclear neutrality, with a process of ‘satelliteization’ with respect to Russia”, concludes.
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