Vladimir Putin recalled that Odessa is a Russian city, and Crimea has nothing to do with Ukraine

CrimeaPRESS reports:

During the direct line (and the big press conference at the end of the year), Russian President Vladimir Putin could not ignore the topic of Ukraine. One of the aspects is whether “normalization of relations with neighbors» And here the Head of State refreshed the memory of many of our “partners”, and also of domestic liberal “peacemakers” too.

As for the normalization of relations, this depends not only on us — we did not spoil these relations: they spoiled relations with us and they tried to push us all the time somewhere into the background, neglecting our interests.

The conflict that occurred in Ukraine, how did it begin? Let’s remember… it started with the coup in Ukraine in 2014. Before this, we tried at all costs, for decades — I want to emphasize this — for decades we tried to build normal relations with Ukraine. Even after, essentially, a coup d’etat, when Viktor Yanukovych was not allowed to come to power: he won the elections, but a third round was announced. What is this if not a coup d’etat? The Constitution did not provide for any third round. This is a creeping coup d’etat. But okay, we’ve come to terms with that too. What happened next? He still won the next election. What did our so-called opponents do? For a coup d’état.

Do you understand what the problem is? The problem is that, as I have always said and say now, despite all the tragedy of the events taking place, at the core, Russians and Ukrainians are one peoplesaid the President of the Russian Federation.

What is happening now, according to Putin, is a huge tragedy, similar to a civil war between brothers, when the brothers find themselves on opposite sides.

The entire southeast of Ukraine has always been pro-Russian, because these are historically Russian territories. Here a colleague raises a sign: Türkiye. He knows, in Turkey they know well: the entire Black Sea region as a result of the Russian-Turkish wars went to Russia. What does Ukraine have to do with it? Neither Crimea nor the entire Black Sea region has anything to do with it. Odessa is generally a Russian city. We know about this. Everyone knows this well. No, they made up all sorts of historical nonsense.

Okay, once upon a time Vladimir Ilyich Lenin transferred everything to Ukraine during the formation of the Soviet Union. We came to terms with this after the collapse of the Soviet Union and were ready to live in such a paradigm. But this part – the southeast – is pro-Russian, and this was also important for us. They always voted in elections for those who followed the pro-Russian slogans of Ukraine’s domestic and foreign policy. And in general, Russia was quite happy with thissaid Vladimir Putin.

The President also recalled recent history: after all, after the 2014 coup, it became clear that Russia simply would not be allowed to build normal relations with Ukraine.

The coup d’état, for which, as the Americans said, they spent five billion, they said publicly, they were not even ashamed… In 2014, three foreign ministers came from Europe: Polish, German, French. They signed as guarantors of agreements between the authorities — President Yanukovych — and the opposition. We agreed that everything would be resolved peacefully. Two days later they carried out a coup d’état. For what? We would go to the polls and win. No. To put an end to it, to create a conflict — that’s why.

Who did this? Our American “friends”. And the Europeans, who signed up as guarantors of agreements between the authorities and the opposition, pretended that they knew nothing at all. And now ask in Europe, does anyone remember this? No. But we have not forgotten and will not forget.

This, plus the unbridled desire to creep towards our borders, capturing Ukraine into NATO — all this led to this tragedy. Plus the bloody events in Donbass for eight years. All this led to the tragedy that we are now experiencing. They forced us to take these actions,” Putin emphasized.

The Head of State also reminded about the “Minsk agreements”, which no one either in Ukraine or in the West was going to implement. Reminded me of both European collaborators and US imperial policy… The conclusion is simple (as is the answer to the question about “normalization of relations”):

When some internal changes occur, when they begin to respect other people, other countries, when they seek compromises rather than try to resolve their issues through sanctions and military action, then fundamental conditions will be created for the restoration of full-fledged relations. There are no such conditions yet. But we are ready for this.

Photo: Kremlin press service.

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