Russia (bbabo.net), - The President answered questions from media representatives regarding the situation in Donbas: about the recognition of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, about measures to support them and, if necessary, protect them.
P. Zarubin: Pavel Zarubin, Rossiya TV channel.
Your yesterday's decisions and statements, they, of course, caused a very stormy international reaction, a whole flurry.
And of course, there are a lot of thoughts on the topic that Putin allegedly wants to recreate Russia within the borders of the Russian Empire. You have already said that this is not so, but this is the recognition of the DPR and LPR, within what boundaries? After all, the Donetsk and Lugansk regions are large regions, and Russian people also live there.
And, of course, the obvious question is also: what about the Minsk agreements now, on the implementation of which Russia has been insisting for exactly seven years?
And of course, I can't help but ask about the news right from the last minute. The Federation Council has just approved your appeal on the use of the Russian Armed Forces abroad. What can you tell us about this? How big can this operation be?
Thanks a lot.
Vladimir Putin: The use of the Armed Forces abroad. The second is the borders of the LPR, DPR. And the Russian Empire, right?
P.Zarubin: And the Minsk agreements - what will happen to the Minsk agreements now.
Vladimir Putin: Let's start with the Minsk Agreements - with the Minsk Package of Measures to Settle the Situation in South-Eastern Ukraine - that's how they sound.
We have been doing this for not just seven, almost eight years. When I say "we", I mean Russia, and your obedient servant was the author of the documents. And therefore, I want to emphasize this again, we were interested in the implementation of this Package of Measures. Because it is the result of a compromise.
Beneath them, under these documents, were the signatures of the leaders of two previously unrecognized republics. By the way, one of them was killed as a result of a terrorist act, he died at the hands of the Ukrainian special services, an employee of the Ukrainian special services. There is no question here - this is an obvious thing, this is just a direct political assassination.
But this is not what is important, but what is important is that under them, under these documents, were the signatures of the leaders of these republics, and then we achieved this compromise. By the way, it was not easy to do this, because initially the leaders of these formations did not want to take part in the Minsk agreements, and they did not want to put their signatures. Nevertheless, a compromise was found, and this was a real movement towards a settlement by peaceful means.
All these years, as it was said yesterday here in this hall during the meeting of the Security Council, everything has been brought to naught by the efforts of the current Kiev authorities. Therefore, the Minsk agreements were killed long before yesterday's recognition of the people's republics of Donbass - and not by us, not by representatives of these republics, but by the current Kiev authorities.
As a matter of fact, yesterday's event, the recognition of these republics, is dictated precisely by the fact that the leadership of Kiev, the leadership of Ukraine, has already begun to publicly declare that they are not going to fulfill these agreements. Not going to comply. Well, what else can you say? And the first persons have already publicly announced this.
What's next to wait? Wait for the continuation of this mockery of people, this genocide of almost four million people who live in these territories? It's just impossible to look at it. You can see for yourself what is happening there. Well, how can you bear it any longer? As a matter of fact, that's all.
Our colleagues from Europe, when we talked to them, all said the same thing: “Yes, yes, we must follow this path,” but in reality they could not force their partners from among the current leadership in Kiev to do this. Therefore, we were forced to make this decision, and in this sense - yes, of course, now the Minsk agreements - they do not exist. Why fulfill them if we recognized the independence of these formations.
Now, as for the borders, within what borders will we recognize these republics. We recognized them, which means we recognized all their fundamental documents, including the Constitution, and the Constitution spelled out the borders within the Donetsk and Luhansk regions at the time when they were part of Ukraine. But we expect, and I want to emphasize this, that all controversial issues will be resolved in the course of negotiations between the current Kiev authorities and the leadership of these republics. Unfortunately, at this point in time, we understand that this is impossible, since hostilities there are still ongoing and, moreover, they tend to escalate. But I hope it stays that way in the future.Regarding the use of the Armed Forces abroad. Well, how? Certainly. We signed agreements yesterday, and these agreements with both the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic contain relevant clauses that we will provide these republics with appropriate, including military, assistance. Since there is a conflict there, we make it clear by this decision that we, if necessary, intend to fulfill our obligations.
Please.
V.Ichetkina: Good afternoon. TASS agency, Veronika Ichetkina. Also on the topic of Donbass.
Ukraine, obviously, cannot, does not want to recognize the sovereignty of the LPR and DPR, and they are also clearly not happy with our decision to recognize sovereignty.
After what happened yesterday, today, do you see any prospects for the improvement and rehabilitation of relations between Moscow and Kiev? And if so, what should Moscow do for this and what should Kiev do? Thanks.
Vladimir Putin: You know, we discussed these issues during many hours of negotiations and meetings with our European partners. As a matter of fact, we also talked about this with the Americans more than once.
I don't think it was publicly announced, but I'll say it. Naturally, the question sounds - so what should happen on both sides or on the part of Kiev so that the situation, in our opinion, is considered settled in the long-term historical perspective and so that we can live in peace, so that there is no talk of any conflicts, more armed ?
I will reveal this terrible secret to you. After all, there is nothing secret here. The first thing everyone needs to do is recognize the will of the people who live in Sevastopol and Crimea. I have spoken about this many times, and I want to emphasize it again. How is this declaration of will worse than what happened in Kosovo? Nothing. It's just that there the decisions were made by the parliament, and here - at a national referendum.
And I want to emphasize once again: no one could drive people to the polls at gunpoint or under bayonets. They came voluntarily and made their decision to reunite with Russia. And this decision must be respected. If those who somehow dispute in one way or another still consider themselves democratic countries, they must finally admit it. This is the highest form of democracy - a referendum. First.
Second. We have already spoken about this publicly many, many times; in fact, this is the subject of our bitter dispute with Washington and NATO. We categorically object to the admission of Ukraine to NATO, because it poses a threat to us, and there is an argument. I have already spoken about this many times in this hall.
And in this regard, of course, we proceed from what many are saying, including in Western capitals, that the best solution to this issue would be for our colleagues in Western countries not to lose face, as they say. so that today's Kiev authorities themselves refuse to join NATO. In fact, they would implement the idea of neutrality. This is the second.
Third. Unfortunately, this has already lost its relevance. I have always said that it is necessary to solve the problem of Donbass through peaceful negotiations and the implementation of the Minsk agreements.
And finally, the most important, the fourth. Everything that was said above can be reversed in one second if our so-called partners pump up the current Kiev authorities with modern types of weapons. Therefore, the most important point is a certain degree of demilitarization of today's Ukraine. Because it is the only objectively controllable factor that can be observed and reacted to.
Everything else is flipped from today to tomorrow, in either direction. So, as, for example, the current leader of Ukraine did, anathematizing the previous leader, prosecuting him for some supposedly treacherous actions, he does not like the Minsk agreements.
It was also possible to disavow the possible agreements that I just mentioned if they were accepted by the current leadership. He would just go live somewhere in Washington, Paris or Berlin, that's all. And we would be left with "anti-Russia" armed to the teeth. This is absolutely unacceptable, especially now, after the current leadership of Ukraine has declared its nuclear ambitions.
Please.
A. Yunashev: Alexander Yunashev, Life.
Vladimir Vladimirovich, yesterday, in your address to the Russians, you mentioned Zelensky’s words, and, in my opinion, not for the first time, that, according to him, nuclear weapons could reappear in Ukraine, and Ukraine would join the nuclear club.
Vladimir Putin: …he just said that.
A. Yunashev: Are these just his words or do we have a real threat that nuclear weapons will appear at our borders in Ukraine?
Thanks.Vladimir Putin: I have just mentioned this. We understand that these words were addressed primarily to us. And I want to say that we heard them. Since Soviet times, Ukraine has had fairly broad nuclear competencies - there are several nuclear units, and the nuclear industry is developed quite widely and well, there are schools, everything is there to solve this issue much faster than in those countries that solve these problems from scratch. I will not list them, you already know everything about it. This is the first.
Only one thing is missing there - only uranium enrichment systems are missing. But this is a matter of technology, for Ukraine this is not an unsolvable problem, it is solved quite simply. As for the means of delivery, I already said, in my opinion yesterday, in my address, there are old Soviet-made Tochka-U missiles - a little over 100 kilometers, 110. I said 100, in fact it is 110 kilometers. This is also not a problem, given the competencies of, say, Yuzhmash, which made intercontinental ballistic missiles for the Soviet Union.
But what is the threat to us? The fact that even the appearance of tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine means a strategic threat for us. Here's what we need to keep in mind. Because from 110 you can raise the range to 300, to 500 - and that's it, Moscow will be in the affected area. For us, this is a strategic threat. We took it that way. And, of course, we must and will take this very seriously.
A.Kolesnikov: Andrey Kolesnikov, Kommersant newspaper.
Vladimir Vladimirovich, do you think that in the modern world it can generally be like this: decide by force and remain on the side of good? This is my first question.
The second question is, so to speak, more technical. In your opinion, how far can the troops go: to the line of contact, to the administrative borders of the LPR and DPR? Or something else?
Thanks.
Vladimir Putin: First, I did not say that the troops would go there right now, after our meeting here. This is the first. Second. It is generally impossible to predict any specific outline of possible actions. It depends on the specific situation that is developing on the spot, on the ground, as they say.
As for the question - is it possible and necessary to resolve all issues with the help of force or remain on the side of good? Well, why do you think that good should always be powerless? I don’t think so, I think that just good implies the ability to defend oneself. From this we will proceed.
Thanks. Good luck.
Source: kremlin.ru
bbabo.Net