The prospects of Ukraine’s NATO membership pose a “fundamental threat” to Russia’s safety, President Vladimir Putin mentioned.
Speaking with African leaders in St. Petersburg late Friday, Putin mentioned advancing the alliance’s navy infrastructure was “unacceptable.”
The Russian chief additionally pointed to the destiny of conflict-hit international locations, together with Iraq, Libya, and Syria, which he mentioned NATO international locations had declared opponents.
“The problem did not arise yesterday; it was provoked by some forces in the West, who for many years were preparing for a hybrid war with our country, did everything to turn Ukraine into a tool to undermine the foundations of the security of the Russian Federation, to damage Russian positions in the world and to undermine our statehood,” he harassed.
Putin mentioned Ukraine’s navy growth culminated in 2014 when the Western international locations “sponsored unconstitutional armed bloody coup” in Ukraine.
“It was precisely a state unconstitutional armed bloody coup, which Western countries actively supported, ignoring all norms of international law and directly, publicly said that they sponsored this coup, even called the amount of money, they spent on it,” he famous.
Putin additionally referred to Ukraine’s Declaration of Independence, which features a clause on the nation’s standing as a impartial state.
“In this declaration, it was written in black and white that Ukraine is a neutral state, which is of fundamental importance for us,” he emphasised.
West forgot what it did in Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Syria
Putin additionally dismissed accusations that Moscow violated the U.N. Charter when it launched its “special military operation” in Ukraine in 2022.
“On the contrary, I am sure that we fully complied with the U.N. Charter. After the coup in 2014, the Ukrainian authorities began fighting, in fact, against part of their people, using aircraft, heavy equipment and tanks against those who did not agree with the coup supported by the West in 2014. Thus, the West started the war in Ukraine. That’s exactly how it was, and it’s impossible to deny it,” he mentioned.
Recalling the signing of the Minsk agreements on the peaceable settlement of the disaster, Putin mentioned that with the West’s help, Kyiv flouted its a part of the accords.
He mentioned that for eight years, Russia prevented recognizing the breakaway “republics” that declared independence from japanese Ukraine and sought a peaceable settlement, Putin mentioned, including that when Kyiv refused to implement the Minsk offers, Russia was “forced” to acknowledge them.
“Within the framework of these agreements, calls for help were answered. This, in turn, refers to Article 51 of the U.N. Charter and fully corresponds to the article. There is no violation of the U.N. Charter here,” he argued.
Putin mentioned the Western “partners” had forgotten their actions in Iraq and Sudan, overthrowing the state in these international locations, whereas they invaded Libya and Syria with no U.N. decision.
“They didn’t give a damn about the U.N. Charter. They remember international law only when they believe these tools can be used against someone – in this case, against Russia. They won’t succeed; it’s too primitive. If they really want someone to comply with the U.N. Charter and other norms of international law, then let’s take the trouble to comply with the same norms of law themselves.”
Nevertheless, Russia helps a peaceable settlement of any disputes, Putin underlined.
He mentioned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had signed a decree prohibiting peace talks with Russia as long as the present administration stays in energy, however added: “For our part, we have never refused to negotiate; we have always publicly stated that we are ready to continue dialogue.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com
