The Russian president said on Tuesday that the Russian invasion of Ukraine was the “right decision” and that “lofty goals” would be achieved, leaving the charges against Volodymyr Zhelensky.
Vladimir Putin attended a ceremony at the Vostocni Cosmotrome, emphasizing the desire to achieve new space achievements, and the “special military operation” in Ukraine – the term used by Moscow to define the invasion – “no other option”.
“Ukraine began to become an anti-Russian force, and the offspring of nationalism and neo-Nazism began to grow there. It was a long time ago. The neo-Nazi generation was deliberately raised and Russia’s conflict with these forces. Inevitably, they chose the moment to attack,” Putin was quoted as saying by Toss. , Still talks about “clear and noble intentions”.
“The main purpose is to help the people of Donbass, which we were compelled to do, because the Kiev authorities, under pressure from the West, refused to implement the Minsk agreements and aimed at resolving the issues peacefully. “Unfortunately, it has become a part of life in a very large country close to us. Conflict is inevitable, it is a matter of time,” he added.
Putin criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zhelensky, accusing him of opposing the Minsk II agreement, which provided for the creation of a new Ukrainian constitution that would determine the decentralization of the regions and the uniqueness of Donetsk and Lukansk.
“He has publicly rejected the agreement. It is simply impossible to continue to support this genocide that has been going on for eight years,” Putin said. On the one hand, we are helping and protecting the people, and on the other hand, we are taking steps to ensure Russia’s security. We will not stop the army until we control the Donbass, “he concluded.
The war, which began today in Ukraine for the 48th day, has left an undecided number of civilians and soldiers dead. The UN confirmed the deaths of 1,842 civilians, including 148 children, as of Sunday, but warned that the actual figure was “significantly higher”.
Considered to be the worst refugee crisis in Europe since World War II (1939-1945), the war led to the evacuation of an additional 11 million people, including 4.5 million from neighboring countries.
The United Nations estimates that the war in Ukraine has left more than 13 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.