Neutral status, negotiations and UN Charter: What Putin said at the Russian Africa Summit (Video)
According to Putin, in Ukraine in 2014, an unconstitutional coup, which supported the collective event, allegedly occurred. Then Kiev "began" against the Donbass, and therefore the war in Ukraine, according to the Russian leader, began the event. Moreover, the head of the aggressor country noted that Russia, having introduced troops into the territory of Ukraine, did not violate the UN Statute. Moscow, in his opinion, somehow contributed to the peaceful settlement from 2014 to 2022.
Putin also stated that Russia was "forced" to recognize the independence of the so -called "DNR" and "LNR", and then officially send troops there. According to the Kremlin head, the proposals of the African Union to end the war in Ukraine correlate with the peaceful plan of China. "We have never refused to negotiate, we have always publicly said that we were ready to continue the dialogue," Putin said.
He noted that Russia allegedly voluntarily withdrew its troops from Kiev in 2022, as it hoped to sign a peace treaty with Ukraine. However, the "Kiev authorities" again deceived Moscow. In addition, Putin stated that Ukraine's neutral status is a fundamental issue for Russia. For some reason, Ukraine's accession to NATO in some way will threaten the security of the Russian Federation.
"Kyiv received its independence and independence during the collapse of the Soviet Union on the basis of the Declaration of Independence, and in this declaration it was written in black and white that Ukraine is a neutral state, and it is of fundamental importance to us," the Kremlin head said. It should be reminded that the head of the African Union Azali Asvangi said that the organization is ready to be a mediator between Russia and Ukraine in negotiations on the termination of the war.