In a televised address to the nation, Russian President Vladimir Putin attacked Ukraine. The country has never had “real statehood,” Putin said. Corruption and power struggles between oligarchs reigned supreme.
In a televised speech, Russian President Vladimir Putin questioned the statehood of Ukraine as a whole. In a television speech on Monday, the Kremlin chief described Ukraine as a state created by Russia under the communist revolutionary leader Lenin. The monuments to Lenin were destroyed there as a sign of “decommunization,” said Putin, with a view to abolishing what was left of communism. “We are ready to show Ukraine what true decommunization is.”
Putin: Corruption and power struggles between oligarchs prevent people from getting better
Ukraine has never had “real statehood” but rather copied models, Putin said. Radicals and nationalists are in charge there today – among the curators of the West, who would have led the country into a dead end. Corruption and power struggles by oligarchs would prevent people in the ex-Soviet republic from doing better.
In the speech, Putin was expected to announce his decision to recognize the self-recognized “People’s Republics” of Luhansk and Donetsk in eastern Ukraine as independent states. The decision is likely to further fuel the Ukraine conflict. Previously, Putin had heard the National Security Council. The majority of its members spoke out in favor of recognition.
Putin: Ukraine could produce nuclear weapons
In his televised address, Putin warned that nuclear weapons could be manufactured in Ukraine. “We know that there have already been reports that Ukraine wants to produce its own nuclear weapons. This is not an empty boast,” Putin said. “Ukraine actually still has Soviet nuclear technologies and delivery systems for such weapons.”
The Kremlin chief also accused NATO of having started with an “impudent attachment” to Ukraine. The West wants to open up Ukraine as a “theater of possible hostilities,” Putin said.
“NATO cheated us”
He also accused NATO of deceiving Moscow for years. When Germany was reunited in Soviet times, Russia was promised that NATO would not expand a bit to the east, said the Kremlin chief. “They betrayed us,” Putin said, accusing the Western alliance of having already pulled through five waves of eastward expansion — and treating Russia like an enemy. “Why all this? What for?” Putin asked.
He had recently warned several times against Ukraine’s admission to NATO. This threatens Russia’s security. According to Putin, NATO was designed to weaken Russia as the largest country in terms of area. In the past, the terrorists in the North Caucasus had also been supported, he said, referring to the wars in the Russian republic of Chechnya.
So far, NATO has ignored all protests and warnings. The bloc has moved its military infrastructure closer and closer to Russia’s borders. The western alliance “spit” on Moscow’s concerns and did what it wanted.
At the same time, Putin emphasized that Russia is still ready for dialogue with the West – with NATO and the USA. Prerequisites are an end to eastward enlargement, a waiver of the stationing of missile defense systems and a withdrawal of NATO to the positions of 1997, said Putin. “Russia has always advocated and always advocates that the most difficult issues be decided at the negotiating table using political-diplomatic methods,” he said.
Putin: Mass crimes against people of Russian origin in Donbass
Despite the lack of evidence, the President spoke in his TV speech of a mass crime against people of Russian origin in eastern Ukraine. “The so-called civilized world prefers to ignore the genocide in Donbass committed by Kiev,” Putin said. Four million people are affected.
The Kremlin chief had already used the word “genocide” in connection with the Donbass at a press conference with Chancellor Olaf Scholz last Tuesday.
Scholz initially left this claim unchallenged. A little later, however, he clearly contradicted Putin’s account: “That’s a strong word. (…) But it’s wrong.” Scholz’ statement had caused widespread criticism in the Russian leadership.
According to the United Nations (UN) definition, genocide occurs when “a national, ethnic, racial or religious group is destroyed in part or in whole”.
The United States recently accused Russia of possibly wanting to use the accusation of genocide as a pretext for an invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin has always vehemently denied plans of attack.
Note: This article has been updated.
Source: Stern
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