Russia does not intend to harm world order: Putin

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Russian President Vladimir Putin held Thursday a press conference in the Russian capital, Moscow, in which he addressed the latest developments in the Donbass region.

He said the military operations taking place in Ukraine, which Russia launched Thursday, were an emergency measure.

"Risks in the field of security have formed such that it is no longer to reach a solution by any other means[...] the risks could have affected our existence and we have repeated ourselves for any sanctions," referring to several Western countries declaring that they have sanctions in place to impose on Russia and others who have already imposed them.

"What is happening now in Ukraine is an emergency measure," he said, asserting that Moscow did not "intend to harm the world order of which we are a part, and our partners must understand this matter."

Had Russia not taken this step, he underlined, "We would have faced a threat that I do not know how our country would have continued after. "

"The situation is difficult, and I hope that we will be able to work together in solidarity and an effective manner," he told the press conference.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had earlier authorized a special military operation in Donbass this Thursday morning, citing neo-Nazi NATO allies moving closer to his nation's border.

Moscow's military operation in Ukraine is not a beginning of a war, but rather an attempt at curbing a global one, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Thursday.

"First of all, it is not a beginning of a war. It is very important. Our desire is to prevent the developments that could escalate into a global war. Second of all, it is the end of a war," Zakharova told NTV, a Russian broadcaster.

In response to the Russian operation in Donbass, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland have agreed to hold consultations in accordance with NATO's Article 4.

Russia has for months been warning of the threat posed against it by NATO's attempts to expand eastward, which happened simultaneously with an increase in NATO military activity along Russia's borders, and batches of lethal weapons being sent to Ukraine, prompting Russia to request security guarantees from the West. Washington failed to provide the guarantees.

Tensions had been soaring between Russia and Ukraine over the Donbass region and announcing it was intending to sign a decree recognizing the independence of the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) and the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR). 

The announcement had been preceded by intense Ukrainian shelling of the two republics, and Russia's recognition of their statehood was a move to protect the innocent civilians from the Ukrainian aggressions.