Dear citizens of Russia! Dear friends!
Today, I again consider it necessary to return to the tragic events taking place in Donbass and the key issues for ensuring the security of Russia itself.
Let me start with what I said in my address on 21 February this year. We are talking about what causes us particular anxiety and worry, about those fundamental threats that, year after year, step by step, are created rudely and unceremoniously by irresponsible politicians in the West towards our country. I mean the expansion of the NATO bloc to the east, bringing its military infrastructure closer to Russia’s borders.
It is well known that for 30 years we have been persistently and patiently trying to reach an agreement with the leading NATO countries on the principles of equal and indivisible security in Europe. In response to our proposals, we are constantly confronted with either cynical deception and lies, or attempts at pressure and blackmail, while the North Atlantic Alliance, meanwhile, despite all our protests and fears, is constantly expanding. The military machine is moving and, I repeat, approaching our borders.
Why is all this happening? Where does this impudent manner of speaking come from the position of one’s own exclusivity, infallibility and permissiveness? Where does the contemptuous, contemptuous attitude towards our interests and absolutely legitimate demands come from?
The answer is clear, everything is clear and obvious. The Soviet Union weakened in the late 1980s and then completely disintegrated. The whole course of events that took place then is a good lesson for us today; she convincingly showed that the paralysis of power and will be the first step towards complete degradation and oblivion. Once we lost confidence in ourselves for a while and that’s it, the balance of power in the world turned out to be upset.
This has led to the fact that previous treaties and agreements are no longer in force. Persuasion and pleas do not help. Everything that does not suit the hegemon, the rulers, is declared archaic, obsolete, unnecessary. And vice versa: everything that seems useful to them is presented as the supreme truth, passed on at all costs, boorish, of course. Dissenters break through the knee.
What I am talking about now affects not only Russia and not only us. This applies to the entire system of international relations, and sometimes even to the US allies themselves. After the collapse of the USSR, the redistribution of the world actually began and the norms of international law that developed at that time – and the key ones, the main ones of which were adopted at the end of World War II and largely consolidated its results – began to interfere. who declared themselves victorious in the Cold War.
Of course, in practical life, in international relations, in the rules for their regulation, it was necessary to take into account changes in the world situation and the balance of power itself. However, this had to be done professionally, smoothly, patiently, taking into account and respecting the interests of all countries and understanding our responsibility. But no – a state of euphoria of absolute superiority, a kind of modern form of absolutism and even against the background of a low level of general culture and arrogance of those who prepared, adopted and implemented decisions that were useful only to them. The situation began to develop in a different scenario.
You don’t have to look far for examples. First, without any sanction from the UN Security Council, they carried out a bloody military operation against Belgrade, using planes and missiles right in the heart of Europe. Several weeks of continuous bombardment of civilian cities on life-sustaining infrastructure. We must recall these facts, otherwise some Western colleagues do not like to remember these events, and when we talk about it, they prefer to point out not the norms of international law, but the circumstances that they interpret as they see fit.
Then came Iraq, Libya, Syria. The illegitimate use of military force against Libya, the distortion of all decisions of the UN Security Council on the Libyan issue led to the complete destruction of the country, to the emergence of a huge outbreak of international terrorism, to the fact that the country sank. in a humanitarian catastrophe that has not stopped for many years. Civil War. The tragedy, which has doomed hundreds of thousands, millions, not only in Libya but throughout the region, has led to mass migrations from North Africa and the Middle East to Europe.
A similar fate was prepared for Syria. The fighting of the Western coalition on the territory of this country without the consent of the Syrian government and the sanction of the UN Security Council is nothing but aggression, intervention.
A special place in this series, however, is, of course, the invasion of Iraq, also without any legal grounds. As a pretext, they chose reliable information that is said to be available to the United States about the presence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. As proof of this, in public, the US Secretary of State shook a tube of white powder, assuring everyone that it was a chemical weapon being developed in Iraq. And then it turned out to be a scam, a bluff: there are no chemical weapons in Iraq. Unbelievable, surprising, but the fact remains. There were lies at the highest state level and from the high rostrum of the UN. And as a result – huge casualties, destruction, an incredible influx of terrorism.
In general, it seems that practically everywhere, in many regions of the world where the West is coming to establish its turn, the result is bloody, unhealed wounds, ulcers of international terrorism and extremism. Everything I have said is the most impressive, but by no means the only example of disregard for international law.
In this series and promises to our country not to expand NATO by one inch to the east. I repeat – I was deceived, but more popularly, they just threw it away. Yes, you can often hear that politics is a dirty business. Maybe, but not to the same extent, not to the same extent. Ultimately, such deceptive behavior contradicts not only the principles of international relations, but above all the generally accepted norms of morality and ethics. Where is justice and truth here? Just a bunch of lies and hypocrisy.
By the way, American politicians, political scientists and journalists themselves write and talk about the fact that a real “empire of lies” has been created inside the United States in recent years. It’s hard not to agree with that – it’s true. But don’t be modest: The United States is still a great country, a system that forms a force. All her satellites not only resignedly and obediently agree, sing to her for any reason, but also copy her behavior, enthusiastically accept the rules he offers. Therefore, with good reason, we can say with confidence that the whole so-called Western bloc, formed by the United States in its own image and likeness, is the “empire of lies” itself.
As for our country, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, with all the unprecedented openness of the new modern Russia, the willingness to work honestly with the United States and other Western partners and in the face of virtually unilateral disarmament, they immediately tried to squeeze us, finish us destroy completely. This is exactly what happened in the 1990s, in the early 2000s, when the so-called collective West was most active in supporting separatism and mercenary gangs in southern Russia. What casualties, what losses it all cost us then, what trials we had to go through before we finally broke the back of international terrorism in the Caucasus. We remember this and we will never forget.
Yes, in fact, until recently, attempts to use us to their advantage, to destroy our traditional values and impose on us their pseudo-values that would erode us, our people from within, those attitudes that they are already aggressively instilling in their countries and directly leading to degradation and degeneration because they contradict the very nature of man. It won’t happen, no one did. And now it will not work.
Nevertheless, in December 2021, we again tried to negotiate with the United States and its allies on the principles of security in Europe and non-enlargement of NATO. Everything is in vain. The position of the United States does not change. They do not consider it necessary to negotiate with Russia on this key issue for us, pursuing their own goals, they neglect our interests.
And of course, in this situation we have a question: what to do next, what to expect? We know very well from history how in the 1940s and early 1941s the Soviet Union tried in every way possible to prevent or at least delay the outbreak of war. To this end, among other things, he literally tried to continue not to provoke a potential aggressor, not to perform or postpone the most necessary, obvious actions in preparation for repelling an imminent attack. And these steps, which were ultimately taken, were catastrophically late.
As a result, the country was not ready to fully meet the invasion of Nazi Germany, which invaded our country on June 22, 1941, without declaring war. The enemy was stopped and then crushed, but at a colossal cost. Attempting to appease the aggressor on the eve of the Great Patriotic War turned out to be a mistake that cost our people dearly. In the first months of hostilities, we lost vast, strategically important territories and millions of people. We will not make such a mistake a second time, we have no right.
Those who claim world domination, publicly, with impunity and, I emphasize, without reason, declare us, Russia, their enemy. In fact, today they have great financial, scientific, technological and military capabilities. We are aware of this and objectively assess the threats that constantly pose us in the economic sphere, as well as our ability to resist this brazen and constant blackmail. I repeat, we evaluate them without illusions, extremely realistically.
As for the military, modern Russia, even after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the loss of much of its potential, is today one of the world’s most powerful nuclear powers and also has certain advantages over a number of the latest weapons. In this regard, no one should doubt that a direct attack on our country will lead to defeat and severe consequences for any potential aggressor.
At the same time, technologies, including defense, are changing rapidly. Leadership in this area is passing and will continue to change hands, but the military development of the territories adjacent to our borders, if we allow it, will remain for decades to come, and perhaps forever, create an ever-increasing, absolutely unacceptable threat to Russia. .
Even now, as NATO expands to the east, the situation for our country is getting worse and more dangerous every year. In addition, in recent days, NATO leadership has spoken openly about the need to accelerate, accelerate the movement of Alliance infrastructure to Russia’s borders. In other words, they are solidifying their position. We can no longer just keep watching. It would be absolutely irresponsible on our part.
The further expansion of the infrastructure of the North Atlantic Alliance, the started military development on the territories of Ukraine is unacceptable to us. The issue, of course, is not NATO itself – it is only an instrument of US foreign policy. The problem is that in our neighboring territories, I will note, in our own historical territories, a hostile “anti-Russia” is being created, which is under full external control, is intensively populated by the armed forces of NATO countries and is inflated with the most -modern weapons.
For the United States and its allies, this is Russia’s so-called containment policy, an obvious geopolitical dividend. And for our country, this is ultimately a matter of life and death, a matter of our historical future as a nation. And this is not an exaggeration – it is true. This is a real threat not only to our interests, but also to the very existence of our state, its sovereignty. This is the red line itself, which has been talked about many times. They passed her.
In this regard, the situation in Donbass. We see that the forces that carried out the coup in Ukraine in 2014 seized power and held it with the help of, in fact, decorative election procedures, finally giving up a peaceful settlement of the conflict. For eight years, an infinitely long eight years, we have done everything possible to resolve the situation by peaceful, political means. All in vain.
As I said in my previous address, one cannot watch what is happening there without compassion. It was just impossible to stand it all. This nightmare had to be stopped immediately – the genocide against the millions of people living there who rely only on Russia, rely only on us. It was these aspirations, feelings, pain of the people that were the main motive for us to decide on the recognition of the people’s republics of Donbass.
What I think is important to emphasize further. In order to achieve their own goals, the leading NATO countries support in all respects the extreme nationalists and neo-Nazis in Ukraine, who in turn will never forgive the Crimean and Sevastopol residents for their free choice – unification with Russia.
They will, of course, go to the Crimea, just like in the Donbass, with a war to kill, as punishers of the gangs of Ukrainian nationalists, Hitler’s accomplices who killed defenseless people during the Great Patriotic War. They openly state that they are claiming a number of other Russian territories.
The whole course of events and the analysis of the incoming information shows that Russia’s clash with these forces is inevitable. It’s only a matter of time: they are cooking, waiting for the right time. Now they also claim to have nuclear weapons. We will not allow this to happen.
As I said earlier, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia accepted the new geopolitical realities. We respect and will continue to treat all newly formed countries in the post-Soviet space with respect. We respect and will continue to respect their sovereignty, and an example of this is the assistance we have given to Kazakhstan, which is facing tragic events, challenging its statehood and integrity. But Russia cannot feel safe, develop, exist with a constant threat coming from the territory of modern Ukraine.
Let me remind you that in 2000-2005 we resisted the terrorists in the Caucasus, defended the integrity of our country, saved Russia. In 2014, they supported the people of Crimea and Sevastopol. In 2015, the armed forces posed a reliable barrier to the infiltration of Syrian terrorists into Russia. We had no other way to defend ourselves.
The same thing is happening now. You and I simply have no choice but to defend Russia, our people, other than the one we will be forced to use today. Circumstances require us to take decisive and immediate action. The People’s Republics of Donbass have appealed to Russia for help.
In this regard, in accordance with Article 51 of Part 7 of the UN Charter, with the sanction of the Federation Council of Russia and in implementation of the treaties of friendship and mutual assistance ratified by the Federal Assembly on February 22 this year with Donetsk People’s Republic and Lugansk People’s Republic, I decided to conduct a special military operation.
It aims to protect people who have been harassed and genocided by the Kyiv regime for eight years. And for this we will strive for the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, as well as the administration of justice to those who have committed numerous bloody crimes against civilians, including citizens of the Russian Federation.
At the same time, our plans do not include the occupation of Ukrainian territories. We will not impose anything on anyone by force. At the same time, we hear that there have been more and more rumors in the West lately that those signed by the Soviet totalitarian regime, which is consolidating the results of World War II, must no longer be implemented. So what’s the answer to that?
The results of the Second World War, as well as the sacrifices of our people on the altar of victory over Nazism, are sacred. But this does not contradict the high values of human rights and freedoms, based on the realities that have developed today in all the post-war decades. Nor does it repeal the right of nations to self-determination enshrined in Article 1 of the UN Charter.
Let me remind you that neither during the creation of the USSR, nor after the Second World War, people living in certain territories that are part of modern Ukraine have ever wondered how they themselves want to arrange their lives. Our policy is based on the freedom, the freedom of choice for everyone to determine their own future and the future of their children. And we consider it important that this right – the right to choose – be exercised by all peoples living on the territory of today’s Ukraine, by anyone who wants it.
In this regard, I appeal to the citizens of Ukraine. In 2014, Russia had to protect the people of Crimea and Sevastopol from those you call “Nazis.” The people of Crimea and Sevastopol made their choice to be with their historical homeland, with Russia, and we supported that. I repeat, they simply could not do otherwise.
Today’s events are not related to the desire to harm the interests of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. They are related to the protection of Russia itself from those who have taken Ukraine hostage and are trying to use it against our country and its people.
I repeat, our actions are self-defense against the threats that threaten us from an even greater disaster than what is happening today. As difficult as it may be, please understand this and I call for cooperation in order to turn this tragic page as soon as possible and move forward together, not to allow anyone to interfere in our affairs, in our relations, but to to build them ourselves so as to create the necessary conditions for overcoming all problems and, despite the existence of state borders, to strengthen us from within as a whole. I believe in this – this is our future.
I must also address the servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Dear comrades! Your fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers did not fight the Nazis, defending our common homeland, so today’s neo-Nazis are seizing power in Ukraine. You have sworn allegiance to the Ukrainian people, not to the anti-people junta that is robbing Ukraine and making fun of these same people.
Do not obey her criminal orders. I urge you to lay down your arms immediately and return home. Let me explain: all servicemen in the Ukrainian army who meet this requirement will be free to leave the combat zone and return to their families.
I emphasize once again that all responsibility for possible bloodshed will be entirely on the conscience of the regime governing Ukraine.
Now a few important, very important words for those who may be tempted to intervene in current events. Anyone who tries to hinder us and further threaten our country, our people, must know that the answer will be immediate and will lead to consequences that you have never experienced in your history. We are ready for any development. All necessary decisions in this direction have been taken. I hope to be heard.
Dear citizens of Russia!
Prosperity, the very existence of whole nations and peoples, their success and viability always stem from the powerful root system of their culture and values, experiences and traditions of their ancestors and, of course, directly depend on the ability to adapt quickly to ever-changing life, on the cohesion of society, its readiness to consolidate, to gather all its strength to move forward.
Forces are always needed – always, but strength can be of different qualities. The policy of the “empire of lies”, which I spoke about at the beginning of my speech, is based mainly on brute, direct force. In such cases we say, “There is power, there is no need for mind.”
Both you and I know that the real power is in justice and the truth that is on our side. And if this is so, then it is difficult to disagree with the fact that strength and readiness to fight are the basis of independence and sovereignty, are the necessary basis on which you can only reliably build your future, build your home, your family, your homeland. .
Dear compatriots!
I am confident that the loyal soldiers and officers of the Russian armed forces will fulfill their duty professionally and courageously. I have no doubt that all levels of government, specialists responsible for the stability of our economy, the financial system, the social sphere, the leaders of our companies and the entire Russian business will act in a coordinated and efficient manner. I rely on the consolidated, patriotic position of all parliamentary parties and public forces.
After all, as has always been the case in history, the fate of Russia is in the safe hands of our multinational people. This means that the decisions taken will be implemented, the set goals will be achieved, the security of our country will be reliably guaranteed.
I believe in your support, in that invincible force that love for the Fatherland gives us.