Moscow [Russia], February 22 (ANI): Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed a decree recognizing the independence of breakaway regions Donetsk and Luhansk. Putin made this announcement during a televised address to Russians on Monday.
Earlier in the day, Putin held a phone call with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Olaf Scholz and stated that he will be signing a decree recognizing the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk.
According to the statement released by Kremlin, both the Western leaders voiced their dissatisfaction on hearing Putin’s decision. “Russian President Vladimir Putin had phone conversations with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Vladimir Putin briefed them on the results of the extended meeting of the Russian Security Council, which considered the current situation around Donbas in the context of the State Duma’s decision on the recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics,” the statement says.
Russia claims the surge of forces has always been for military exercises and that it poses no threat to Ukraine or any other nation, but has refused to offer any other explanation for the biggest build-up of military might in Europe since the Cold War.
On Saturday, Russia’s Rostov Region had opened 15 border crossings for refugees from the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas. Later on the same day, Denis Pushilin, the head of pro-Russian separatist DPR announced that he had signed a decree on general mobilization.
Ukraine created by Russia, radicals take credit for country’s independence: Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday delivered an address where he said that Ukraine was entirely created by Russia under Communist rule but radicals take credit for its independence. This comes at a time when there is a massive military build-up along the border of Ukraine and the West has expressed their worries over the possible invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
He said that “radicals and nationalists take credit for Ukraine’s independence, but they have nothing to do with it,” adding that the “communist party never thought about future of utopian fantasy, infection of nationalism was waiting in the wings.” Putin made lengthy remarks on the Soviet’s history and the formation of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic under Communist rule in the 20th Century.
Furthermore, Putin said that “despite injustice and deceit, Russian people recognized states after collapsing of the soviet union and helped countries, including Ukraine. Russia fully paid off Ukraine’s debts, but Kyiv refused to comply with agreements on the return of property. A parasitic attitude took over the partnership in Ukraine-Russia relations. Kyiv tried to use dialogue with Russia for bargaining with the west, from the very beginning began to build statehood on contradictions. Ukraine never had its true statehood but copying model instead,” reported Sputnik.
He stated, “Ukrainian leaders pursued policy dictated by radicals, and the latter became impudent, imposed their will on authorities. Corruption in Ukraine corroded Ukrainian statehood, nationalists took advantage of this in 2014 with the support of the west. Ukraine is split, going through an acute economic crisis. Radicals who seized power in Ukraine organized terror, people were brutally murdered in Odessa, we will do everything to punish these criminals.”
Talking about Ukraine’s economy, Putin said, “In Ukraine, many do not have money to pay for utility bills, this happens because fortune from the Russian empire was squandered and stolen. The collapse of the Ukrainian economy was accompanied by the outright robbery of the country’s citizens, brainwashing; the state was driven under external control. Power of ‘patriots’ in Ukraine lost its national character, leading to de-sovereignization of country,” reported Sputnik. He blamed Ukraine’s authorities to have “outdone their western sponsors and invented sanctions against own citizens.” (ANI)
NATO’s radars in Ukraine can control Russian territory: Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin in his Monday address blamed NATO by saying that if NATO deploys radar equipment in Ukraine, they can control Russian territory. In his address, he said, “If NATO deploys radar equipment in Ukraine, they can control Russian territory. US deployment of some weapons in Ukraine will mean they put knives to Russia’s throat. Russia’s proposals on security guarantees were rejected out of hand.”
He accused NATO of carrying anti-Russian sentiments, “With the expansion of NATO, countries that joined alliance brought their fixations, anti-Russian sentiment to the alliance,” he said. “Western weapons coming to Ukraine in an unceasing stream, defiantly; foreign advisers are in charge of the situation. Command of armed forces of Ukraine can directly come from nato headquarters,” he added.
Putin said, “Ukraine’s constitution does not allow foreign military bases, but they bypassed it, they call nato base a mission. Kyiv has long proclaimed course toward nato, but there is a principle in international documents not to strengthen security at others’ expense.”
“Russia consistently offered NATO cooperation in various formats, Moscow fulfilled all obligations to the west. Russia received five waves of nato expansion, we were simply deceived,” he added
He further blamed NATO and said that the “European security crisis happened due to NATO expansion, and this led to the loss of mutual trust.”
Notably, in response to ideas on security guarantees and non-expansion of nato, the West said that any state has the right to enter into any alliances. “Russia has every right to take retaliatory measures for its security, and we will do so,” said Putin.
During his address, he blamed America for “using Ukraine, Georgia to carry out anti-Russian policy.”
Putin, in his address, said that the US embassy in Kyiv directly controls anti-corruption activities under the pretext of the effective fight, but corruption is blooming more than ever in the country. “They again tried to blackmail Russia with sanctions, regardless of the situation in Ukraine, the goal is same- to restrain Russia’s development,” he said on warning of sanctions on Russia by western countries.
Putin orders Russian armed forces to Ukraine breakaway regions
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the sending of the Russian Armed Forces to Ukraine’s breakaway regions after recognizing their independence in his Monday address to the nation. This is a key development after Putin on the same day signed a decree recognizing the independence of breakaway regions Donetsk and Luhansk. Putin made this announcement during a televised address to Russians.
After the announcement, the US said that it will soon impose sanctions on two Russia-backed separatist regions in Ukraine. The US strongly condemned Putin’s decision to recognize the “so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics” as “independent.” “As we said when the Duma first made its request: this decision represents a complete rejection of Russia’s commitments under the Minsk agreements, directly contradicts Russia’s claimed commitment to diplomacy, and is a clear attack on Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” said the White House in a statement.
President Biden will sign an Executive Order that will prohibit all new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in the “so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics”
Russia claims the surge of forces has always been for military exercises and that it poses no threat to Ukraine or any other nation, but has refused to offer any other explanation for the biggest build-up of military might in Europe since the Cold War. (ANI)
