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Russian pres. says west must immediately give Moscow security guarantees

Friday, 24 December 2021 5:31 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 10 January 2022 10:24 AM ]

Marina Kortunova
Press TV, Moscow

President Vladimir Putin has talked about Moscow’s security proposals presented to the NATO alliance last week.

Speaking during his annual press conference, he said it is the Western countries that must immediately give Russia security guarantees, not the other way round. Putin said NATO’s efforts aimed at eastward expansion are unacceptable. The Russian leader also said the West is dishonest and reneges on its promises. Consequently, their weapon systems will emerge there!

A journalist believes that Putin’s statements serve as a deterrent against the West. Speaking about Ukraine, Putin said that Russia was responding to threats from Kiev. He called the 2014 Maidan Revolution a “bloody coup” that happened despite the readiness of Ukraine’s then-President Viktor Yanukovych to avoid it. He also accused Ukrainian extremists of planning operations to retake Crimea and the Donbass.

Putin said that he personally tried to discourage former Ukrainian President Poroshenko from launching a military operation in Donbass. He said Kiev does not want to honor the Minsk agreements and adopts laws that run counter to these accords.

Putin said Ukraine and the West want to portray Russia as a party to the conflict in that country. He said incumbent Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been under the influence of radical elements after coming to power, like the country’s previous leaders.

On Afghanistan, Putin stated that Afghanistan needs a government that represents its entire people so it can be recognized by the international community. The Russian leader said the most important thing to do right now was to prevent the country’s collapse. He asserted that the countries that occupied Afghanistan for two decades should be the first to offer aid. He called on the West to unfreeze Afghanistan’s financial assets, warning that the country is on the brink of famine.

Putin holds a big press conference every year in December, during which he often touches on acute international problems and offers recommendations on how to solve them. The statements made by the Russian president during this event are prompted by politicians from different countries, in particular by the opponents of Russia.

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