Russian President Vladimir Putin announced launching a special operation to protect the Donbas region, pledging to destroy any potential aggressor against Russia
In a televised statement today, President Putin said “The People’s Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in Donbas region, turned to Russia with a request for help. In this regard, in accordance with Article 51, part 7 of the UN Charter, with the sanction of the Federation Council and in pursuance of the friendship treaties ratified by the Federal Assembly and mutual assistance with the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, I have decided to conduct a special military operation”
According to Putin, “we have no plans to occupy Ukrainian territory,” stressing that Russia does not want to occupy Ukraine
Putin added “Circumstances require us to take decisive and immediate action. We simply weren’t given any other option to defend Russia and our people other than that which we will use today”
Putin pointed out that NATO creates from year to year grave dangers of its expansion towards the east and the approach of its infrastructure to Russia’s borders until it is almost attached to it, stressing that the entire alliance of Western countries established by the United States is an empire of lies
Putin made it clear that Russia does not intend to occupy the territory of Ukraine, but supports the right of peoples to self-determination
Putin urged Ukrainian soldiers to lay down their weapons immediately and return home, stressing that Russia will not allow Ukraine to acquire nuclear weapons