Vladimir Putin has returned to talking about the conflict in Ukraine , arguing that it is a "defensive" war and that Moscow is fighting against Kiev for the "survival" of its "statehood".

“For us, this is not a geopolitical task, but the task of the survival of Russian statehood, of creating conditions for the future development of the country and our children,” the Russian president said in a conversation with factory workers of the aviation industry in Ulan-Ude. "The pressure on Russia began after the collapse of the Soviet Union," he added, underlining how opponents have also used terrorism against his country. Now the geopolitical interests of the West have become "much more important for them than were the ideological contrasts with the USSR."

Finally, with regard to Donbass, Putin declared that Moscow had "tried for eight years" to resolve the issue "peacefully" but was "deceived" . Finally, the head of state argued that Russia "has been patiently trying to normalize relations with the modern Ukrainian state for decades", but that "the situation changed dramatically in 2014" with the Maidan uprising, which he, in line with the Kremlin's position, he defines as «a coup instigated by the West».

(Unioneonline/F)

© Riproduzione riservata