Ukraine: Russia will end the Ukraine war only “after achieving its goals,” says Putin
Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: Noting that Russia is willing to go to great lengths to protect its interests at any cost, President Vladimir Putin has stated that Russia did not start the Ukraine war, and accused the West of ‘igniting’ the conflict, the media reported on Friday.
In an interview with India Today group journalists, ahead of his current India visit, he declared that Moscow will end the operation only “after achieving its goals.”
He said Russia did not start the Ukraine war. It was Ukraine’s actions, under the influence of the West, which dragged Russia into the conflict, which has been running for almost four years.
The Russian President revealed his endgame in Ukraine and said that the war will end once Russia achieves its goals, including “liberating Donbas.”
“Our special military operation isn’t the start of a war, but rather an attempt to end the one that the West ignited using Ukrainian nationalists,” he said.
“All this boils down to one thing: Either we take back these territories by force, or eventually Ukrainian troops withdraw,” he added.
Underlining friction between the two countries, he said Ukraine harmed Russian interests by banning the Russian language in several territories and driving people away from shrines, churches, and so on.
“The point is that Russia is determined and will certainly do so to protect its interests, protect its people living there, protect our traditional values, the Russian language, and so on.”
Ukraine even banned the Russian Orthodox Church and seized many others. Russia is fighting to reaffirm its position on those territories.
He attacked the West, saying it never mentions the events that led to the Ukraine war, and cited the 2014 overthrow of then-Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.
“The West backed Ukraine and supported the events by orchestrating the coup d’état. That was the point that triggered the events in Crimea, followed by developments in southeastern Ukraine, in Donbas. However, they never mention it.”
Russia attempted to resolve the matter through a peaceful path but it yielded no resolution. It, therefore, had no other options but to go to war.
Putin blamed Ukraine for ushering in violence against the citizens living in the Donbas region.
“After eight years of relentless violence against those citizens of Donbass, something the West hasn’t uttered a word about, we were forced to recognise these republics first, and secondly, provide support.”
