Zakharova: Russian operation a 'forced move'
The spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry argues that after Russia exhausted negotiation efforts, the military operation was inevitable.
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Zakharova's statement was published on the Russian Foreign Ministry's website
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said today that Russia has tried to prevent the current developments around Ukraine, but the West preferred not to notice this and now has forgotten its responsibility.
Zakharova called the Russian operation a 'forced move', especially after several negotiation efforts, compromises, clarifications and explanations failed.
"We tried to prevent this result for many years, not weeks, not months, using all the possibilities and all the tactics. But can they really sink to such a level that they do not take responsibility for their own complicity in the collapse of Ukraine," Zakharova said on the Soloviev Live YouTube show.
Read more: Russian MoD: Kiev refused to negotiate with Moscow
Furthermore, Zakharova said that Western countries cannot pretend that they have no involvement in this, and that they were not "the ideologists of the intra-Ukrainian confrontation and confrontation of Ukraine, primarily, with Russia," she added.
Regarding the sanctions imposed against Russia - some even as bizarre as banning Russian cats - Zakharova said that it is difficult to judge the long-term effects of sanctions, noting that things can potentially return back to normal.
The United States' stance, according to the spokeswoman, is hypocritical regarding the expulsion of Russian ambassadors and diplomats.
Read more: Russian UN envoy: Expulsion of 12 diplomats is US hostility
"What the Democratic party started doing under [former US president Barack] Obama — expelling our diplomats, intimidating and seizing property — was the rupture of these contacts, that is why saying that Russia had insidious plans is not [just] hypocrisy, it is lies, it is propaganda of the present day," she said.
Biden: We are giving more than $1 billion in assistance to Ukraine
Speaking of his administration's top priorities, Ukraine became the main topic of interest in Biden's State of the Union Speech, which was held yesterday. He reaffirmed plans to continue supporting Ukraine against Russia while providing multiple forms of assistance worth $1 billion.
"Together with our allies we are providing support to the Ukrainians in their fight for freedom. Military assistance. Economic assistance. Humanitarian assistance. We are giving more than $1 billion in direct assistance to Ukraine. And we will continue to aid the Ukrainian people as they defend their country and to help ease their suffering," Biden said.
Although Ukraine will be receiving hefty assistance, Biden ruled out any present or future military participation in the conflict.
"Let me be clear, our forces are not engaged and will not engage in conflict with Russian forces in Ukraine," Biden said on Tuesday.
There was particular attention in the speech on the new package of sanctions against Moscow as Biden tried to convince Americans not to panic over them.
"And I know the news about what’s happening can seem alarming but I want you to know that we are going to be okay," Biden said.
