“If there is no neutrality, it is difficult to imagine the existence of any good-neighborly relations between Russia and Ukraine,” Putin said on Thursday during a speech at the plenary session of the Valdai International Dialogue Forum. “This means that Ukraine will constantly be used as a tool in the wrong hands and at the expense of Russia’s interests.” “Federal.”
He added: “The basic conditions for the normalization of relations will not be created, and the situation will develop according to an unpredictable scenario, and we strongly want to avoid that.”
He continued: “We are specifically determined to create conditions for a long-term settlement, and for Ukraine to eventually become an independent, sovereign state and not be a tool in the hands of third countries and not be used for their interests.”
Putin explained that the border between Ukraine and Russia should extend along the line determined by the sovereign decision of the residents of Donbass and Novorossiya, who joined Russia after the referendum. He explained that “further development of the situation will depend on the dynamics of events.”
He referred to the legitimate decision of the residents of the former Ukrainian regions to declare independence and join Russia, a decision protected by international law, stressing that “Ukraine’s borders must be drawn in accordance with the sovereign decisions of the people who live in certain regions that we call our historical lands.”
He added: “It all depends on the dynamics of the events taking place.”
Putin explained, “According to Article 1 of the United Nations Charter, every people has the right to self-determination, and the people living in the Crimean Peninsula and the people living in southeastern Ukraine who did not agree to the coup, which is an illegal, anti-constitutional act, have the right to self-determination.” .
Putin referred to the decision of the United Nations International Court of Justice, which ruled in the Kosovo precedent that “some territories, declaring their independence, should not and should not seek the opinion and permission of the central authorities of the country to which this territory currently belongs.”
The Russian leader stressed that “these territories, including Novorossia and Donbass, have the right to decide on their sovereignty,” stressing that “this is fully in line with today’s international law and the United Nations Charter.”
He continued, saying: “We had the right to conclude international agreements with these new countries. These agreements included provisions on mutual assistance. We ratified them and pledged certain obligations. Then these new countries appealed to us to provide assistance within the framework of these treaties. We were given the opportunity and we had to.” “Doing this…we did not initiate any intervention or aggression…we are trying to stop it.”
Putin also noted that the UN Secretary-General was among those who “support those who say that we violated international rules and principles and the UN Charter, and began military operations in Ukraine.”
He concluded by saying: “There is no rational answer… Where is the error in this series? Where did we violate international law and the United Nations Charter?
It is noteworthy that on May 12, 2014, the “Donetsk People’s Republics” and “Lugansk People’s Republics” declared their independence after most of the residents of the Lugansk and Donetsk provinces in eastern Ukraine voted in a general referendum in favor of secession from Ukraine.
They showed the world their determination to defend their right to their mother tongue, culture and belonging and their readiness to courageously resist the aggression of the Nazis who seized power in Kiev.
The Donetsk and Luhansk republics became part of Russia by referendum held in September 2022.
In October 2022, President Vladimir Putin signed laws accepting the accession of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, and the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, after they were approved by the Russian Parliament.
President Putin stressed that the security of the new Russian regions is an urgent priority for Russia, just like the rest of the country’s territories.
As part of its military operation, the Russian army continues to liberate the remaining territories from the new entities under Kiev’s control, cleanse Ukraine of Nazism and disarm it, prevent its accession to NATO and the European Union and declare it neutral.
Source: RT
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### Interview with Political Analyst Dr. Anna Petrova on Putin’s Recent Statements
**Interviewer:** Good morning, Dr. Petrova. Thanks for joining us today. We’ve seen an escalation in rhetoric from President Putin regarding Ukraine during his recent speech at the Valdai International Dialogue Forum. What do you think are the main takeaways from his statements?
**Dr. Petrova:** Good morning, and thank you for having me. Putin’s remarks highlight his view of Ukraine as a tool in broader geopolitical conflicts. His insistence on the necessity of “neutrality” for good neighborly relations indicates his desire for Ukraine to be out of Western influence and fully aligned with Russian interests. This sets a very high barrier for any potential diplomacy.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned the concept of “neutrality.” How does Putin define that, and what implications does it have for Ukraine’s sovereignty?
**Dr. Petrova:** Putin’s definition of neutrality seems to involve Ukraine distancing itself from Western alliances, particularly NATO and the EU, which he perceives as threats. He argues that without this neutrality, Ukraine cannot truly be a sovereign state. This essentially undermines Ukraine’s right to choose its political alliances and could lead to further conflict in the region.
**Interviewer:** He also referenced the residents of regions like Donbass and Novorossiya having the right to self-determination. How significant is this claim in the context of international law?
**Dr. Petrova:** Putin’s claims rest on a particular interpretation of international law, specifically the right to self-determination as stated in the UN Charter. However, these declarations are controversial, especially given the context in which they arose—following armed conflict and without internationally recognized referendums. This argument serves to legitimize Russia’s actions in the eyes of some, but it is widely contested globally.
**Interviewer:** He cited the Kosovo precedent in his justification. How does that analogy hold up under scrutiny?
**Dr. Petrova:** The Kosovo analogy is a contentious one. In the case of Kosovo, there was significant international debate, and while some countries recognized its independence, others, including Russia, did not. The situations are not directly comparable, as Kosovo’s independence was largely based on humanitarian grounds and international intervention, whereas the annexation of Crimea and the support for separatists in Eastern Ukraine involve military actions and are viewed as violations of sovereignty by many nations.
**Interviewer:** what do you think the future holds for Ukraine-Russia relations based on Putin’s statements?
**Dr. Petrova:** If Putin continues to assert these positions without engaging in genuine negotiations that respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, we are likely to see an extended period of tension and conflict. The rhetoric suggests an inflexibility that may complicate any future diplomatic efforts, and without a concerted international response, the situation could worsen, not just for Ukraine but for regional stability as a whole.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Petrova, for your insights on this critical issue.
**Dr. Petrova:** Thank you for having me. It’s a pleasure to discuss these important matters.
