Putin: Russia stands for demilitarization of Ukraine

MOSCOW, Feb.22, (ST)- Russia calls for the demilitarization of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday.

“Everything that has been said above (about potential agreements with Kiev – TASS) can be reversed in a second if our so-called partners continue to pump the current Kiev authorities with state-of-art weapons. That is why the key point is a certain degree of demilitarization of today’s Ukraine, because it is the only objectively controlled factor, which can be monitored and reacted to,” he said when asked by TASS what could promote a detente in relations with the West and Ukraine.

He said he wished the Donbass problem could be settled through talks and the implementation of the Minsk agreements, but “regrettably, this is no longer relevant.”

He also stressed that it is inadmissible to flood Ukraine with weapons, especially bearing in mind its “nuclear ambitions.”

Touching upon Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s remarks that he did not like the Minsk agreements, Putin said that in this way it might be possible to walk out of any other agreements, for instance, Kiev’s hypothetical pledge not to join NATO, although in this way the country’s authorities “would have in fact implemented the idea of neutrality.”

“He (Zelensky) would resettle to Washington, Paris or Berlin, while we would have a heavily armed ‘anti-Russia’ next door. This is absolutely unacceptable, in particular, now, that Ukraine’s current leadership has declared its nuclear ambitions,” Putin stressed.

Russia will provide military aid to Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics

Earlier today, the Russian president said that his country Russia will provide military aid to Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics.

“About the use of armed forces abroad. Well, how else, of course, we did sign treaties yesterday after all; and, in these treaties with Donetsk People’s Republic and Lugansk People’s Republic, there are corresponding clauses that stipulate that we will provide corresponding aid, including military one,” Putin said.

He added that, since there is a conflict going on in Donbass, the Russia’s decision “made it clear that Russian intends to fulfill its obligations if necessary.”

Minsk agreements cease to exist

Moreover, Putin declared that the Minsk agreements are non-existent after the recognition of the Donetsk and Lugansk Peoples Republics (DPR and LPR).

“In this sense, no, the Minsk agreements are non-existent now. Why should they be implemented if we recognize the independence of these republics?” he told a news conference.

The Russian president recalled that Kiev authorities have publicly said they were not going to implement the Minsk agreements and in those conditions Russia could not tolerate genocide of the Donbass people any longer. That was why Russia had to recognize the Donbass republics.

“They are not going to implement – what else can be said? And the top officials have already said it in public. What is to be expected then? Shall we wait for the continuation of sufferings of these people, this genocide of nearly four million people who are living on these territories? It is simply impossible to look at it. It could not be tolerated any longer,” he said.

Russia, in his words, has always been interested in the implementation of the Minsk agreements as they were a result of a compromise. “I would like to stress once again that we have been interested in the implementation of this Package of Measures because it was a result of a compromise,” he said, adding that he was among the authors of this document on the part of Russia.

But, since the signing of the Minsk accords, Ukraine has been seeking to reduce all the efforts toward their implementation to zero. “The Minsk agreements were killed long before yesterday’s recognition of the Donbass republics. And not by us, not by these republics, but by Kiev’s current authorities,” Putin stressed.

On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree recognizing the sovereignty of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR). Treaties of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance were signed with their leaders. Putin instructed the foreign ministry to establish diplomatic relations with the Donbass republics and the defense ministry to ensure peace on their territories.

Compiled by: Basma Qaddour