Tianjin, China – During his participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday defended the massive military offensive. This offensive was the one that Moscow began on Ukraine more than three years ago.
Putin said in a speech during the summit held in the Chinese city of Tianjin: “This crisis was not the result of the Russian attack on Ukraine. Rather, it was the result of a coup in Ukraine that he supported and was caused by the West”.
He added: “The second reason for this crisis is the West’s constant attempts to drag Ukraine into NATO”.
The Russian President noted: “Of course, for the Ukrainian settlement to be sustainable and long-term, the root causes of the crisis must be eliminated. I have repeatedly mentioned these causes before. Furthermore, a fair balance in the security field must be restored”.
Putin’s speech is a reference to the pro-European revolution that Ukraine witnessed in the period 2013-2014. This revolution overthrew pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych. Moscow responded by annexing Crimea to its territory. It also supported pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
New Regime
Putin’s speech came during the Shanghai Cooperation Summit in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin. The summit is attended by about 20 leaders of the Eurasian region.
During the opening, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for opposition to the Cold War mentality. He opposed the policy of intimidation in international relations.
Putin believed that the world now needs “a solution system instead of the European-centered system and the Euro-Atlantic system”.
He added that it must take into account the interests of the widest circle of countries.
Putin considered these two systems outdated.
“We highly appreciate the efforts and proposals of China, India and other strategic partners aimed at contributing to resolving the Ukrainian crisis,” he added.
Putin confirmed that he would discuss, during a series of bilateral meetings in Tianjin, diplomatic efforts to reach a settlement in Ukraine.
Especially after the summit he held with his American counterpart, Donald Trump, in Alaska on August 15 (August).
President Putin said the understandings reached during his meeting with US President Donald Trump last August open the way to finding a solution. This solution pertains to the crisis in Ukraine.
He continued: “I would also like to point out that I hope the understandings reached at the recent Russian-American meeting in Alaska will contribute to achieving this goal”.
