Ball now on Ukraine’s side with regard to talks: Putin
4 Min Read
Russian President Vladimir Putin accuses Ukraine of abandoning all previous agreements, stressing his country's will to seek a peaceful resolution to the war in Ukraine.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting on economic issues via a video conference at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (AP)
Ukraine abandoned the agreements established when Russian soldiers withdrew from the Kiev area, and Moscow does not understand why Western countries are pulling Ukraine into NATO, posing a security concern, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"Not everyone knows this, but we know it well, that Kiev received its sovereignty and independence during the collapse of the Soviet Union on the basis of a declaration of independence, and in this declaration, it was written in black and white that Ukraine is a neutral state. And for us, it is of fundamental importance," Putin said at a Friday meeting in St. Petersburg with the heads of African delegations, adding that "Why the West began to draw Ukraine into NATO is not very clear to us."
Putin added that Moscow has repeatedly publicly voiced its readiness for talks with Kiev, stressing that "after the withdrawal of our troops from near Kiev - and we were asked to do this in order to create conditions for the conclusion of a final agreement - the Kiev authorities abandoned all previous agreements," Putin said, adding that now, "the ball is completely on their side."
He also emphasized that, despite the West's inability to comply with the UN Charter, Russia is prepared to seek a peaceful resolution to the war in Ukraine.
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"They do not care for the UN Charter, they refer to the international law only when they believe that these tools can be used against someone, in this case against Russia. They will not succeed, it is too primitive," he stated.
"If they really want someone to comply with the UN Charter and other documents of international law, they have to comply with the same norms themselves. But this, nevertheless, does not mean that we do not want and do not seek a peaceful resolution of the conflict."
Doubling down, Putin stated that Russia has never violated the UN Charter and always acts in accordance with its ideals, adding that its principles should be recognized by everybody. "There should not be any double standards, unilateral sanctions, and attempts to ensure their own security at the expense of others," he said.
Moscow appreciates African countries’ approach in finding Ukraine solution
During the Second Russia-Africa Summit on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia has carefully analyzed African countries' ideas and considerations on Ukraine and respects their desire to find a right and fair solution to the Ukraine crisis.
During the meeting, the Russian leader expressed hope that African countries would understand the nature and origins of the Ukraine crisis.
"We tried to convey our vision of this problem. We believe that the problem did not arise yesterday, and was provoked by some forces in the West, who had been preparing for a hybrid war with our country for many years, doing everything to turn Ukraine into a tool to undermine the foundations of Russia's security, to damage Russian positions in the world, and to undermine our statehood," Putin said.
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The Russian president emphasized that it was the 2014 coup in Ukraine that Western countries actively supported, leading to the current crisis.
Putin also thanked African leaders for their approach to seeking a just and fair solution to the Ukraine crisis, adding that "I know that you are sincerely striving to render possible assistance in achieving a just and sustainable solution to the conflict, and we, of course, greatly appreciate your balanced approach, as well as the fact that you did not support and do not support the anti-Russian rhetoric, anti-Russian campaign."
