Given the pace of the offensive, Russia’s interest in the withdrawal of Ukrainian armed forces from the territories has been reduced to zero.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that there are people in the West who advise Kyiv to accept dignified conditions for ending the conflict, but that the Kyiv regime is in no hurry to resolve the conflict by peaceful means.
“Now we see that intelligent people have appeared even in the West who recommend that the Kyiv authorities accept decent conditions for ending the conflict. They also offer good fundamental conditions for ensuring Ukraine’s long-term security, conditions for restoring relations with the Russian Federation and for rebuilding the Ukrainian economy,” Putin said. However, he added, Kyiv is in no hurry to accept them.
Putin recalled that Kyiv started the conflict in 2014 and that Russia is trying to end it.
“Back in 2014, after the coup in Kyiv, Russia proposed that citizens of southeastern Ukraine be given the right to self-determination. The Kyiv authorities opted to launch a large-scale military action – a war,” Putin said.
He added that this right is guaranteed by the UN Charter.
“But, unfortunately, neither then, in 2014, nor later, in 2020, did anyone listen to us. The Kyiv authorities chose to launch large military operations, a war. To start a war. We are trying to end it,” Putin added.
“If Kyiv does not want to resolve the situation by peaceful means, Russia will carry out all the tasks of the SVO by armed means,” the Russian president said.
Putin also emphasized that the Russian army firmly holds the initiative along the entire line of contact, reports RT Balkan.
“Today, judging by your reports, judging by the problems we observe along the line of contact, our interest in the withdrawal of Ukrainian military formations from the territories they currently occupy has been reduced to zero, for various reasons,” Putin said during a visit to the command post of the Joint Group of Forces.
He explained that Russian forces are carrying out all assigned tasks.
The offensive is proceeding at a good pace and the pressure on Ukrainian units in all directions is growing stronger. A serious step has been made toward the liberation of the entire territory of the DPR, Putin added.
MORE TOPICS:
Source: Politika Foto:AP / Russian Presidential Press Office