The special military operation represents an endeavor to bring an end to the long-lasting conflict that has persisted since 2014 while Russia has made extensive efforts to seek a peaceful resolution to this conflict during this protracted period. Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with the China Media Corporation.
"The commencement of Russia's special military operation does not mark the initiation of the conflict; rather, it signifies an endeavor to bring it to a conclusion," Putin stated.
He went on to explain that the conflict in Ukraine did not begin with the special military operation but instead traces back to 2014 when Western countries, initially acting as guarantors of agreements between President Viktor Yanukovych and the opposition, quickly disregarded their commitments and effectively facilitated a coup in Kiev. Putin recalled that officials in the US Administration openly acknowledged their substantial financial support for this endeavor, citing an amount of around $5 billion. The Russian president acknowledged that the coup was also influenced by the errors of Ukraine's leadership at the time but emphasized that these mistakes should have been addressed through democratic procedures, not through the intervention of street militants.
"But Western countries chose a different path, actively supporting the coup d'état in Kiev. Subsequently, the Kiev regime instigated hostilities in southeastern Ukraine, particularly in Donbass, for eight years. During this period, they engaged in armed conflicts that led to the loss of lives, including women and children. Surprisingly, the West seemed to either overlook these events or willfully ignored them," Putin explained.
He also mentioned the signing of the Minsk agreements, highlighting Russia's commitment to pursuing this diplomatic path for conflict resolution. However, this effort was hindered as the leaders of Ukraine openly expressed their unwillingness to adhere to the Minsk agreements. Putin underscored the Ukrainian leadership's disapproval of these agreements, stating that they had no intention of fulfilling their obligations.
"All these factors, along with the United States' efforts to bring Ukraine into NATO, contributed to the escalation of the conflict," the Russian leader concluded. He reminded that the primary thesis of Ukraine's 1991 Declaration of Independence was its status as a neutral state. Thus, it remains unclear why, in 2008, it was announced that "Ukraine was expected to join NATO." "Why? It continues to baffle observers. Year after year, the situation grew more heated. The 2014 crisis eventually erupted, leading to armed conflicts. All these developments have collectively brought about this new level of escalation," Putin explained in an interview published on the Kremlin website.
Putin also emphasized that Russia did not oppose a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. However, he pointed out that it was Kiev that had disregarded the Istanbul agreements and shown an unwillingness to engage in negotiations. "As for how to achieve a peaceful resolution to this conflict, we have never been against it," Putin stated. He reminded that in spring 2022, in Istanbul, the parties had essentially reached an agreement, taking into account Russia's legitimate security concerns. "The Ukrainian side imposed strict security conditions on itself, and we essentially agreed to them. But as soon as our troops withdrew from the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, the Ukrainian side immediately abandoned all these agreements," Putin emphasized. "They declared their intention to pursue victory over Russia on the battlefield, aiming for Russia's strategic defeat." He noted that the Ukrainian "counter-offensive" initiated this year had not achieved its objectives but had resulted in significant losses for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
"Regrettably, the opposing side shows no willingness to engage in negotiations. To make matters worse, the president of Ukraine has issued a decree that not only discourages peace talks but also explicitly forbids them. How can negotiations take place when there is no willingness and there's a formal document prohibiting them?" Putin stated. "If the Ukrainian side wants negotiations, it seems the first step should be the revocation of this decree and a declaration of their readiness for these talks," he explained. "We are prepared for negotiations and remain open to considering the proposals put forward by our Chinese friends," the Russian president added, referring to the peace plan for a Ukrainian settlement that Beijing had offered earlier this year.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
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Based on materials from TASS