Ukraine conflict: Putin sends troops to separatist areas

As of: 02/21/2022 11:23 p.m

Russian President Putin has ordered the deployment of troops to the self-proclaimed People’s Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine. He had previously recognized the separatist areas as independent.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered troops to be sent to the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. This emerges from a decree of the Russian Ministry of Defense. When the soldiers will be sent is still unclear. In addition, Putin instructed the Foreign Ministry to establish diplomatic relations with the two regions that belong to Ukraine under international law.

Putin recognizes separatist areas

Putin had previously recognized the self-proclaimed People’s Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states. State television showed how the head of the Kremlin signed a corresponding decree after a request from the separatists. Putin said he was confident that the Russian people would support his decision.

At the same time, he signed an agreement on “friendship and assistance” with the representatives of the two pro-Russian separatist republics. This makes it possible for Russian soldiers to be stationed there. Putin called on parliament to “confirm this decision and then ratify the friendship and aid agreements with the two republics.”

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Putin denies Ukraine “real statehood”.

In his televised address, Putin described Ukraine, among other things, as a state created by Russia under the communist revolutionary leader Lenin. You have never had “real statehood”, but rather copied models. Today, radicals and nationalists are in charge in Ukraine – among the Western curators, who 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.

Putin also accused Ukraine of wanting to build its own nuclear weapons. This is tantamount to preparations for an attack on Russia. He also called on the Ukrainian leadership to stop firing in eastern Ukraine immediately. Otherwise, Kiev will bear full responsibility for it.

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allegations against NATO

The Kremlin chief also made serious allegations against NATO. He accused the alliance of having deceived Moscow for years. When Germany was reunited in Soviet times, Russia was promised that NATO would not expand eastward. “They betrayed us,” he said. According to Putin, NATO was designed to weaken Russia as the largest country in terms of area.

At the same time, Putin said that Russia is still ready for dialogue with the West – with NATO and the United States. The 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.

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