Brussels 21.02.2022 Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 21, during a televised address, announced the recognition of the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR). The head of state signed decrees on the recognition of the DPR and LPR, as well as agreements on mutual assistance with the republics.
Key quotes from the President’s address:
– Modern Ukraine was created entirely by Bolshevik Russia. The Bolsheviks literally squeezed Donbass into Ukraine;
– Do you want decommunisation? Well, that suits us. We are ready to show you the real de-communisation;
– Ukraine has never had a true statehood of its own;
– It is impossible to recall the terrible tragedy of Odessa without a shudder, the criminals were not punished, but we know them by name. We will do our best to find and punish them;
– Ukraine’s entry into NATO and the deployment of alliance facilities is a foregone conclusion;
– Statements about Ukraine’s creation of its own nuclear weapons are not empty bravado. Ukraine still has Soviet nuclear technology;
– In NATO documents, our country is officially and directly explicitly declared a threat to Euro-Atlantic security;
We will not compromise our sovereignty. Russia has every right to ensure its security.
– I consider it necessary to make a long overdue decision – to immediately recognise the independence and sovereignty of the DNR and LNR.
Recall what preceded this truly historic decision. On Monday, on February 21, a meeting of the Security Council of the Russian Federation was held in an expanded format.
– We have gathered with you to discuss the situation that is developing today in the Donbass, – Vladimir Putin began his opening speech in the Catherine’s Hall of the Kremlin, the very one where the meeting on Crimea was held 8 years ago. – The purpose of our meeting today is to listen to colleagues and determine our next steps in this direction. I mean both the appeal of the leaders of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics to Russia with a request to recognise sovereignty, and the State Duma’s resolution on the same subject calling on the head of state to recognise the independence and sovereignty of the DPR and LPR.
After that, Putin noticed that he had not previously discussed this topic with anyone and began to ask those present for their opinion on the topic.
– It is quite obvious that neither Ukraine nor the West needs Donbass today. They need to freeze the conflict, – said Dmitry Kozak, deputy head of the presidential administration.
– Tell me and my colleagues: will the Kiev authorities implement the Minsk agreements or not? Putin interrupted him.
“In the usual course of events, they won’t,” Kozak specified. – Never will be! It is obvious that they do not want to return Donbass to Ukraine.
And he spoke in favour of recognising the independence of the republics. Foreign Minister Lavrov also supported him.
– Modern Ukraine was created entirely by Bolshevik Russia. The Bolsheviks literally squeezed Donbass into Ukraine;
– Do you want de-communisation? Well, that suits us. We are ready to show you the real decommunization
– Ukraine has never had a true statehood of its own.
– It is impossible to recall the terrible tragedy of Odessa without a shudder, the criminals were not punished, but we know them by name. We will do our best to find and punish them.
Ukraine’s entry into NATO and the deployment of alliance facilities is a foregone conclusion.
– Statements about Ukraine’s creation of its own nuclear weapons are not empty bravado. Ukraine still has Soviet nuclear technology.
– In NATO documents, our country is officially and directly explicitly declared a threat to Euro-Atlantic security
We will not compromise our sovereignty. Russia has every right to ensure its security.
– I consider it necessary to make a long overdue decision – to immediately recognise the independence and sovereignty of the DNR and LNR.
Anna Van Densky blog 